December 01, 2024 – In a controversial and unexpected move, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has imposed a ban on the use of Batticaloa’s Kodamunei Cricket Stadium for official matches, despite its state-of-the-art infrastructure. Built at a cost of Rs. 750 million by a philanthropist from Batticaloa now residing in England, the stadium has become a victim of internal cricket politics, reports suggest.
The SLC Executive Council’s decision has left several first-class sports clubs scrambling for alternative venues. Notably, the Galle Cricket Club, which had planned to use the stadium for seven home matches in the Premier Division II tournament, is now struggling to find a suitable replacement.
Similarly, the Chilaw Marians Sports Club’s request to use the Kodamunei Stadium for the upcoming Premier tournament was also denied.
The Kodamunei Cricket Stadium, the first turf ground in the Eastern Province located in Koddaimunai, was completed in 2022. The funding for the project was primarily provided by former players of the Kodamunei Sports Club who were living overseas at the time. Sri Lanka’s World Cup-winning captain, Arjuna Ranatunga, along with several other former Sri Lankan players, attended the inauguration ceremony a few years ago. Since then, the stadium has hosted several local and international teams, including nine matches of the prestigious Sarah Cup organized by the Sri Lanka Cricket Institute.
The stadium, equipped with modern facilities like team accommodation, eight training pitches, and an electronic scoreboard, is considered a premier venue in the region, with hopes of attracting international matches and boosting tourism in the Eastern Province.
However, according to reports, the ban is driven by political infighting involving two high-ranking officials from the Batticaloa District Cricket Association and a senior SLC official linked to cricket elections in the province. This move has sparked outrage among first-class clubs, which now find themselves without access to the high-quality facility.
In response, the Kodamunei Stadium Authority is preparing to appeal the decision to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasooriya, calling the ban “unfair and arbitrary.”
As the political saga unfolds, the future of the Kodamunei Cricket Stadium and its potential for the North Eastern Province remains in limbo.