The Hon. Sunil Kumara Gamage - Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the answers are as follows:

¶ 02 (a) (i) There is a suitable stadium for national-level competitions at present: the McHeyzer Stadium. (ii) Development works at McHeyzer Stadium are ongoing. The Department of Sports Development has taken charge of the ground. Works on the swimming pool, indoor sports complex and 400-metre track have been completed. The pavilion is in its final stage. (iii) There is no stadium with turf pitches suitable for leather-ball cricket in the Trincomalee District. Sri Lanka Cricket has, for about 10 years, been discussing with the Trincomalee Municipal Council to obtain a suitable land for a stadium; to date, a state land has not been allocated.

¶ 03 (b) (i) Development works at McHeyzer Stadium are ongoing. (ii) No issues have arisen in developing McHeyzer Stadium. (iii) For a leather-ball cricket stadium in the district, Sri Lanka Cricket is working to obtain a state land for the Trincomalee District Cricket Association.

¶ 04 (c) (i) Since 2016, plans have existed to obtain three state lands in Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee through Sri Lanka Cricket, to build District Cricket Grounds and upgrade them to international-level stadiums. However, lands have not yet been allocated to Sri Lanka Cricket. (ii) As lands have not been allocated, construction is on hold. Funds have been allocated in Sri Lanka Cricket’s 2026 budget for these projects.

¶ 05 (d) Does not arise.