In a landmark decision, the Sri Lanka cabinet has passed the proposal to Provide Stadiums and Playgrounds on 99-year lease basis to old Sports clubs and a Committee has been formed to execute it, Cricket Age exclusively learns.
Speaking at the 125th anniversary celebration of the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) at the Shangri-La Hotel Colombo on 28th March 2024, President Ranil Wickremesinghe had revealed that he has instructed the Minister of Sports Harin Fernando to present a Memorandum to the Cabinet, with a proposal to provide the land belonging to the Sinhala Sports Club on a 99-year lease basis, thereby ensuring the continuity and sustainability of the club’s operations and activities. President Wickremesinghe underscored the importance of advancing Sri Lankan cricket, expressing his ambition to witness the nation reclaim its championship status in the sport.
Accordingly it was observed that stadiums and playgrounds that are being used, maintained and taken care of by Sports Clubs which are more than 100 years old and have been actively maintained for the advancement of Sports for more than a century, are eligible to be given to their Sports Clubs under a 99-year lease basis. SSC, NCC, CCC’s contribution to Cricket, CR&FC, CH&FC, Havelock’s contribution to Rugby, Royal Colombo golf club and Nuwara-Eliya Golf Club’s contribution to golf are excellent examples of the contribution to the development and sustainability of Sports in Sri Lanka through such clubs.
In order for Sri Lanka to host a World Cup on it’s own, the Island should have at least few floodlight stadiums of International standard and approved by the ICC. Accordingly, In Sri Lanka, a club like SSC runs and maintain the stadium with their own funds. So, by providing them with those stadiums under the 99-year lease basis, the such clubs can invest money without any confusion and develop them with the necessary Infrastructure. Therefore, it was observed that it is appropriate to make such government policy related to sports.
It has also been recommended to Identify such clubs that have been actively conducting Sports for over 100 years and have a national contribution to Sri Lanka Sports and currently own stadiums and playgrounds for a long period of time on lease basis.
