Cricket Age has reliably learnt that the Lighting System of the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium is below par to the recommended norms of the ICC.
In 2010 the ICC set a benchmark
illumination level of the flood lights to 2000 LUX in order to ensure player safety. At that time the RDICS which was constructed using inferior quality lighting system was reported to have only a 800 LUX illumination at the turf centre. RDICS which was constructed in the year 2000 by Thilanga Sumathipala had reportedly used a lighting system more suited for Foot Ball fields.
Last year, as soon as Sumathipala was elected to office he made a hurried attempt to upgrade the lighting system of RDICS and spent a thumping sum of LKR 50,000,000/= and hired DIMO Engineering to conduct an ineffective upgrade to the woeful lighting system. It has been informed that DIMO has completed the project without using proper lighting measurement methodology in order to host Bangladesh last year due to the instruction received from project beneficiary Sujeewa Godaliyadda who is a member of the SLC EXCO and a close ally of Sumathipala. It is also learnt that no LUX level testing was carried out by any third party prior to commissioning of the new flood light system.As the Bangladesh management was not expected to make an issue out of the matter it was a timely accomplishment for Sumathipala to re establish RDICS as a night venue.
As India are preparing to commence their ODI leg of the tour on Sunday, it will be interesting to note if their team Management will be mindful of the inferior illumination available at the RDICS. An expert on the field is certain that the illumination level at the current stadium will not be more than 1000 LUX which is half the minimum standard required by the ICC to host night time Cricket games in order to ensure player safety.
In order to ensure players safety and to maintain the credibility of SLC, it is highly advisable to hire independent Consultancy firm to analyse the Illumination level and make a recommendation to the authorities regarding the suitability of RDICS as a night venue.
