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Galle awaits international soccer stadium
By Gamini Mahadura our Galle Corr.
“We are ready to construct a fully fledged soccer stadium in the city of Galle. The football world body already has given us the green-light to go ahead with this project which is going cost a sum of over Rs. 30 million. However, for this to become a reality, the local authorities must expedite the handing over of the earmarked land,” said the president of the Sri Lanka Football Federation, Thilina Pandiratne at a meeting held regarding this venture.

Speaking further the FFSL president said “The city of Galle has produced quality soccerites down the ages who were produced from 38 schools and 33 clubs who are currently engaged in this sport. However, with the Galle public sports utility going exclusively for cricket, about 16,000 soccer players lost access to their favourite sport as a result. At the same time, the city of Galle lost the only 400metre sprint track as a result of the same cause. Maybe as a further result of the above the Galle youth are being drawn towards other down scaling activities.”

“We have made a request for a 150x120metre plot of land adjacent to the Galle Cricket Stadium from the authorities, but they are taking a very lackadaisical approach to the whole issue”.“The proposed Soccer Stadium will comprise all modern facilities including a dormitory, a conference hall and spectator stands. It will also have the facility to play night matches too. We have requested this land on a long term lease”.

In conclusion Thilina Premaratne said “There are 204 soccer playing countries in this world and the majority of the tourists who come into this country converge in the South. Once this facility is completed may be it will be an additional boom to the tourist industry of the island.”

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