Hon. Ravindra Bandara

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, I raise a supplementary question. The Hon. Minister clarified the damage caused to the ground. Previously, cricket matches were played there. However, the drainage line runs inside the boundary line, which makes cricket there very dangerous. Even now, cricket is being played. Because of this, big matches in the Bandarawela area have had to be shifted to Suriyawewa. Saying this is not a cricket ground is easy, but Bandarawela is a town suffering from unplanned development. There was an alternative route, which was removed after setting up a wholesale market; now there is no bypass for the town. A Commercial Centre (CC) was built where the market existed.

¶ 02 Hon. Minister, cricket cannot be played there now. Historically, this ground produced players who reached international level, with a renowned coach Jayatissa and notable players like Bhemalal Priyankara, Suriya­ge, and S.A. Lalith. You also know the ground is not suitable for athletics either; there is no proper water drainage and it becomes a muddy swamp. It is a destroyed ground. Therefore, to facilitate cricket and athletics, please provide an alternative developed ground for Bandarawela. There are options such as the developed Kabilla sports ground, the Bandarawela Central College ground, and the Teachers’ College ground. Is there a plan to provide a developed alternative ground for Bandarawela?