Retain Galle International Cricket Stadium at same venue
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To most of us who lived and received our education in Galle, the Galle Esplanade currently renamed as the Galle International Cricket Stadium bring fond memories. In the good old days the Esplanade was used not only for cricket but also for other popular sports such as athletics and football.
However, in terms of the 30-year lease agreement entered into between the Galle Municipal Council and Sri Lanka Cricket during the late 90’s, the Stadium was developed exclusively for the purpose of playing Test Cricket and famously became a test venue in 1998 with the first test match in Galle being played between Sri Lanka and New Zealand. Sri Lanka to date has played 31 Test matches at this venue and has won as many as 14 Tests.
The Galle Cricket Stadium has been the Cricket hub for leading Schools such as Richmond, Mahinda and St. Aloysius. It was as far back in May 1888 that the first School cricket match was played at this venue between Richmond College and All Saints College Galle. The first International Cricket Match was played in 1952 against MCC at the same venue. This is a part of the rich Cricket heritage and history which Galle can boast of.
The Galle Cricket Club situated within the Stadium is over 140 years and is one of the oldest Cricket Clubs in Sri Lanka affiliated to Sri Lanka Cricket. The Stadium itself is one of the most picturesque test venues in the whole world and is in the best located place in Galle town with free movement of vehicular traffic around the stadium overlooking the famous Galle Dutch Fort. It is a heaven for tourists who witness International matches and roam the Galle town.
It is in the above context that the much spoken of the relocation of the Galle Stadium has created controversy with adverse media publicity including protests in the Galle Town, with alleged accusations of this whole episode being politically motivated.
However, it is redeeming to note that the initial furore and the speculation which existed a couple of weeks ago have now receded. It now appears that following a consultative process amongst the various Governmental authorities UNESCO, The Galle Heritage Foundation and Sri Lanka Cricket a comprise would be reached to strike a balance between heritage and sport in order to retain the Galle Stadium as a test cricket venue as in the past.
Nuski Mohamed Former Secretary / Treasurer SLC