Kandy's famous Asgiriya International Cricket Stadium, which for eight decades had served as the Trinity College playground, has been handed over to a Buddhist international school.
The land belongs to the Asgiriya Viharaya.
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| The Asgiriya Chapter Mahanayaka Ven Udugama Sri Buddha Rakkhitha Thera hands over the deeds of the Asgiriya International Stadium to the Palipane Shri Chandananda International School principal Godagama Mangala Thera as the Malwatte Chapter Anunayaka Ven. Niyangoda Vijitha Thera looks on. |
Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Thera, the Asgiriya Mahanayaka, told The Sunday Times the Trinity College lease on the grounds expired last year.
He said the school authorities had failed to respond to repeated requests to vacate the premises. In his third and most recent letter to the Trinity authorities, the Mahanayaka Thera had insisted that the school vacated the premises and removed all its belongings by May 31.
The Asgiriya grounds have been handed over to the Palipana Chandrananda Buddhist International School, which comes under the Asgiriya Viharaya and is located opposite the stadium.
The grounds, closely associated with Trinity College for 80 years, were upgraded to international standard in the 1980s when the Sri Lanka cricket team earned Test status. The move was initiated by the then chairman of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board, Gamini Dissanayake, an old boy of Trinity.
The Trinity College principal was not available for comment. |
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