News

Revamped Dambulla Stadium equipped for Day-night Cricket

Published

5 months ago

December 21, 2023

editor

Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium is now equipped to host floodlight (day-night) cricket matches, sporting a revamped venue with a modern light system, said a senior official of SLC.

The Dambulla Stadium faced challenges playing under lights due to light capacity issues, but it has now been constructed with a new light system, the official of SLC said.

SLC cricket management’s decision to install a new light system has been completed, with six LED light towers surrounding the ground.

Dambulla is the only venue in Sri Lanka featuring LED bulbs, incorporating new technology with dim functionality similar to stadiums in India, and Australia used for franchise tournaments like IPL and Big Bash League.

Dambulla venue earlier had eight light towers, each with 160 lights. In the new construction, six light towers are positioned around the ground, with one tower including 660 LED lights. The height of the towers has increased from 33m to 58m, providing the necessary power capacity to meet international standards, said the SLC official.

While there were plans to host Zimbabwe T-20 matches in Dambulla, accommodations issues led to a relocation of these matches to Colombo. There is also a proposal to add more seats for spectators, with all the funds coming from SLC. This development aims to provide valuable exposure for Sri Lanka cricketers in day-night games at Dambulla, he said.

Constructed in 2000 on a 60-acre land near Dambulla town by former Sri Lanka Cricket President Thilanga Sumathipala, the ground has a capacity of 16,800. The inaugural ODI between Sri Lanka and England was played at Dambulla on March 23, 2001.

Floodlights were installed in 2003, and after 20 years, the current Cricket Administration, headed by Shammi Silva established this new floodlights system. To date, 55 ODI matches have been played at Dambulla, with Sri Lanka winning 25 matches. Lasith Malinga played his 200th ODI at this ground on August 20, 2017 against India.

Notably, both Farveez Maharoof and Taskin Ahmed from Bangladesh took hat-tricks on the Dambulla wicket, while Muttaih Muralitharan holds the highest number of wickets (42) at this stadium and Mahela Jayawardena scored the highest runs (1148) by a single player.

(dailynews.lk)

News

Supreme Court moves another petition by Diana Gamage

Published

3 hours ago

May 10, 2024

nipuni

The Supreme Court has ordered that the petition filed by former State Minister Diana Gamage challenging a decision taken by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) to cancel her party membership, be called on May 28.

This petition was taken up before the three-member Supreme Court bench consisting of Justices Gamini Amarasekara, Kumuduni Wickremesinghe and Mahinda Samayawardhena today (10).

At the time, President’s Counsel Faiszer Musthapha who appeared for the petitioner Diana Gamage, requested for a date to inform the court of the decision to be taken regarding this petition.

Accordingly, the judge bench ordered that the relevant petition be called on May 28 and that the decision regarding the maintaining of this petition be announced on the relevant date.

Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, General Secretary of the SJB Ranjith Madduma Bandara and several others have been named as respondents in this petition.

The SJB had earlier decided to expel Diana Gamage from the party citing that she had failed to comply with the unanimous decision taken by the party to vote against the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, by voting in favour. The SJB had also highlighted that this was a serious violation of party discipline, and that the Opposition Leader and the SJB’s leader Sajith Premadasa decided to suspend her party membership for the reputation or well-being and prosperity of the party.(adaderana.lk)

(This story, originally published by adaderana.lk) has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

US Assistant Secretary Donald Lu to visit SL

Published

3 hours ago

May 10, 2024

nipuni

Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu will travel to India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh May 10 -15.

His trip will strengthen bilateral cooperation with each country and demonstrate U.S. support for a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

In Chennai, Assistant Secretary Lu will meet with Consulate personnel to bolster bilateral engagement in southern India.

He will then travel to Colombo to engage with officials from across the political spectrum and deepen the United States’ partnership with Sri Lanka. In his meetings, he will reaffirm the United States’ support for Sri Lanka’s economic recovery, as well as the importance of a robust civil society as a cornerstone of a free and democratic society.

Assistant Secretary Lu will conclude his trip in Dhaka, where he will meet with government officials, civil society leaders, and other Bangladeshis to discuss U.S.-Bangladesh cooperation, including on addressing the climate crisis and deepening economic ties.

News

Mujibur Rahuman sworn in as MP

Published

8 hours ago

May 10, 2024

nipuni

Mujibur Rahuman was sworn in as a Member of Parliament today (May 10) morning.

He took oath as an MP in the presence of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana.

Issuing an extraordinary gazette on Thursday (09), the Elections Commission announced that Mujibur Rahuman was Declared Elected as a Member of Parliament to fill the vacancy created due to the determination of the Supreme Court canceling the Parliamentary membership of Diana Gamage.

However, in a letter to the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus had urged to appoint a suitable female to the parliamentary seat of Diana Gamage.