Football: FIFA green-light for FFSL own stadium project

The world football governing body, FIFA, has responded positively to a request made by the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) to build a fully-fledged stadium, which will be a first-ever in the country. 

FIFA granting the green light for the project means that FFSL will get its first fully-owned ground with other facilities in Sri Lanka's football history of 77 years. 

Since 1998 through different projects FFSL has done many ground development projects, but none of them are owned by them. 

If the process materializes as planned, FFSL intends to develop the intended stadium into a fully fledged sports complex with facilities to host international matches. 

The proposal was made by two of FFSL's senior stalwarts Ranjith Rodrigo and Anura de Silva to the Regional Development authority at a time when Sri Lanka was in the pipeline of receiving another annual grant to develop a venue. 

"Over the years FFSL has developed so many venues and facilities across Sri Lanka but they are properties owned by other parties. The FFSL develop and upgrade these facilities but they are either on lease or rent. Eventually when the term of agreement reaches an end the FFSL has nothing but put our grants on a property owned by someone else. We thought about this for some time now and proceeded by making a request with the sole intention of leaving behind something for the next generation of football in general. At least FFSL will have its own facility so that football can continue to progress," Rodrigo, the Head of the Media and Communications Committee of FFSL stated. 

Through the period since 1998 FFSL has received FIFA grants through three projects -- the now annual Goal Project, Tsunami Project in 2005 and twice through World Cup Bonus grants. 

The whole amount through these initiatives sum up to over USD One Billion and in some cases even the FIFA had to conduct inquiries owing irregularities over the way the grants were spent. 

Despite of the fact that FFSL obtains grounds and properties owned by various Municipal Councils across the island after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) document with relevant parties, some have turned their backs by reclaiming the hold of certain venues. 

The FFSL, at present, even have sought legal assistance to move forward with the agreements of MoUs signed with certain Municipal Councils to make use of certain facilities. 

"When you sum it up, the FFSL should not be in this position after spending such a massive amount on venues and facilities. This is a project long overdue and if we are looking forward to develop the standards of our national team, who are not in good shape at all, we must adhere with international ground specifications. At present Sri Lanka has only one such ground and that's the Racecourse ground, which is way too expensive for a local match and not according to security requirements of FIFA. We can take all these into consideration in our property," Rodrigo added. 

To make all transactions with clear transparency, the FFSL has already sought advice from the Auditor General's Office on how to prepare and obtain procurement documents and guidelines in acquiring a big land. FFSL President, Anura de Silva conveyed that FIFA is expecting a feedback from Sri Lanka as soon as possible and they have already sent the proposal to Zurich. 

"FIFA is keen to go ahead with the project soon and we will have to send them the procurement guidelines in Sri Lanka through the Auditor General. FIFA will then directly play the owner of the land and we will have to kick off from there. We are ideally looking for a land of around 10 acres in close proximity of the International Airport, so we can host international matches easily. We will develop this facility step by step. It's a positive step forward for Sri Lanka football," de Silva stated.