Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium

The proposal for a new International Cricket Stadium at Sooriyawewa was part of the government's programme to develop sports in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka as part of the government's plan to transform Hambantota into the second major urban hub of Sri Lanka, away from Colombo.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/628289.html|title=SLC expects financial assistance from government|last=Fernando|first=Andrew Fidel|date=April 5, 2013|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=5 April 2013}}

The following 2011 Cricket World Cup matches were held at Hambantota International Cricket Stadium in February 2011. The first official international match was between Sri Lanka and Canada on 20 February 2011, which Sri Lanka won by 210 runs. Two matches were played at the venue during the World Cup.

The Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium hosted three 2012 ICC World Twenty20 matches and the inaugural edition of Lanka Premier League in 2020.{{cite web|url=http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/events_and_awards/twenty20/newsdetails.php?newsId=17175_1316627340|title=England to start ICC World Twenty20 title defence against qualifier|access-date=21 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117163120/http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/events_and_awards/twenty20/newsdetails.php?newsId=17175_1316627340|archive-date=17 November 2011}} The curator of the ground is Ravi Dissanayake and Manager is Colonel Shanaka Ratnayake.

With low coverage of international matches in very rural areas, it has come under extreme criticism and has been called a white elephant as only a few matches were held in the stadium considering the extreme costs for construction and maintenance.{{Cite web|title = Hambantota White Projects Eat Up Economy. The Sunday Leader|url = http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2015/06/28/hambantota-white-projects-eat-up-economy/|access-date = 2015-10-30}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ft.lk/2013/12/11/ravi-k-says-govt-cant-pay-back-sooriyawewa-stadium-loans/ |title=Ravi K. says Govt. can’t pay back Sooriyawewa stadium loans |publisher=The Daily FT |access-date=11 March 2017}} The ministers of opposition criticize that former government has hidden the true story of actual cost for its construction.{{cite web |url=https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/ravi-k-says-actual-cost-of-hambantota-cricket-stadium-is-rs-852-million-and-not-rs-4-5-billion-as-claimed-by-rajapaksa/ |title=Ravi K Says Actual Cost Of Hambantota Cricket Stadium Is Rs. 852 Million, And Not Rs. 4.5 Billion As Claimed By Rajapaksa |publisher=The Daily FT |access-date=11 March 2017}} To gain revenue the Stadium is often hired out for wedding receptions, however, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has proposed that the stadium should be used for training purposes to gain revenue.{{cite news|title=Wedding receptions at Sooriyawewa Stadium: Dayasiri|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/105896/Wedding-receptions-at-Sooriyawewa-Stadium-Dayasiri|access-date=12 April 2017}}

In 2016, after the inspections by Sri Lanka Cricket, president Thilanga Sumathipala pointed out that the walls, carpets, furniture and equipment in the stadium were in a severe state of neglect and deterioration without any attempt to revive the facility to its earlier status.{{cite web |url=http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2016/10/16/attempts-to-revive-another-white-elephant/ |title=Attempts To Revive Another ‘White Elephant’ |publisher=The Sunday Leader |access-date=11 March 2017}}

Initially, 2020 Lanka Premier League was scheduled to be held in Kandy, Dambulla and Hambantota. Due to COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka, health officials agreed to reduce the quarantine period for foreign players from 14 days to 7 days.{{Cite web|title=Lankan Premier League: SLC meets with health authorities; more confident of league going ahead|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/30256067/lankan-premier-league-slc-meets-health-authorities-more-confident-league-going-ahead|access-date=5 November 2020|work=ESPNcricinfo|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=5 November 2020|title=Lankan health ministry likely to give 'conditional approval' for LPL|url=https://www.bdcrictime.com/lankan-health-ministry-likely-to-give-conditional-approval-for-lpl/|access-date=5 November 2020|work=BDCricTime|language=en-US}} Following the urge from health officials, all 23 matches would be held at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium.{{Cite web|author=Gaurav Gupta|date=13 Oct 2020|title=Pallekele, Hambantota to host all Lanka Premier League games. Cricket News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/pallekele-hambantota-to-host-all-lanka-premier-league-games/articleshow/78638025.cms|access-date=13 October 2020|work=The Times of India|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Pallekele, Hambantota To Host All Lanka Premier League Matches. Cricket News|url=https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/pallekele-hambantota-to-host-all-lanka-premier-league-matches-2309550|access-date=13 October 2020|work=NDTVSports.com|language=en}} In 2021 venue hosted 2021 Lanka Premier League Playoffs matches as well.

In 2011, Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium hosted two World Cup matches.

{{Main|2011 ICC Cricket World Cup}}

{{Limited overs international

| date = 20 February 2011

| daynight = yes

| team1 = {{cr-rt|SRI}}

| score1 = 332/7 (50 overs)

| score2 = 122 (36.5 overs)

| team2 = {{cr|CAN}}

| runs1 = Mahela Jayawardene 100 (81)

| wickets1 = John Davison 2/56 (8 overs)

| runs2 = Rizwan Cheema 37 (35)

| wickets2 =Nuwan Kulasekara 3/16 (6 overs)

| result = {{cr|SRI}} won by 210 runs

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/engine/current/match/433560.html Scorecard]

| venue = Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Sooriyawewa, Sri Lanka

| umpires = Ian Gould and Shavir Tarapore

| motm = Mahela Jayawardene (SL)

| rain = Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first.

}}

{{Limited overs international

| date = 23 February 2011

| daynight = yes

| team1 = {{cr-rt|PAK}}

| score1 = 317/7 (50 overs)

| score2 = 112 (33.1 overs)

| team2 = {{cr|KEN}}

| runs1 = Umar Akmal 71 (52)

| wickets1 = Thomas Odoyo 3/41 (7 overs)

| runs2 =Collins Obuya 47 (58)

| wickets2 = Shahid Afridi 5/16 (8 overs)

| result = {{cr|PAK}} won by 205 runs

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/engine/current/match/433563.html Scorecard]

| venue = Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Sooriyawewa, Sri Lanka

| umpires = Tony Hill and Nigel Llong

| motm = Umar Akmal (Pak)

| rain = Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first.

}}

Sri Lanka hosted the 2012 ICC World Twenty20. Three matches were played at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium. Other matches were played at R. Premadasa Stadium and Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

{{Main|2012 ICC World Twenty20}}

{{Limited Overs Matches

| date = 18 September 2012

| time =

| daynight = yes

| team1 = {{cr-rt|SRI}}

| score1 = 182/4 (20 Overs)

| score2 = 100 (17.3 Overs)

| team2 = {{cr|ZIM}}

| runs1 = Kumar Sangakkara 44(26)

| wickets1 = Graeme Cremer 1/27 (4 Overs)

| runs2 = Hamilton Masakadza 20 (23)

| wickets2 = Ajantha Mendis 6/8 (4 Overs)

| result = {{cr|SRI}} won by 82 runs

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-world-twenty20-2012/engine/current/match/533272.html Scorecard]

| venue = Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Sooriyawewa, Sri Lanka

| umpires = Ian Gould and Rod Tucker

| motm = Ajantha Mendis (SL)

| toss = Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field first.

}}

{{Limited Overs Matches

| date = 20 September 2012

| time =

| daynight = yes

| team1 = {{cr-rt|ZIM}}

| score1 = 93/8 (20 overs)

| score2 = 94/0 (12.4 overs)

| team2 = {{cr|RSA}}

| runs1 = Craig Ervine 37 (40)

| wickets1 = Jacques Kallis 4/15 (4 overs)

| runs2 = Richard Levi 50* (43)

| wickets2 =

| result = {{cr|RSA}} won by 10 wickets

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/533275.html Scorecard]

| venue = Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Sooriyawewa, Sri Lanka

| umpires = Steve Davis and Richard Kettleborough

| motm = Jacques Kallis (SA)

| toss = South Africa won the toss and elected to field

}}

{{Limited Overs Matches

| date = 22 September 2012

| time =

| daynight = yes

| team1 = {{cr-rt|RSA}}

| score1 = 78/4 (7 overs)

| runs1 = AB de Villiers 30 (13)

| wickets1 = Nuwan Kulasekara 1/9 (1 over)

| team2 = {{cr|SRI}}

| score2 = 46/5 (7 overs)

| runs2 = Kumar Sangakkara 13 (11)

| wickets2 = Dale Steyn 2/10 (2 overs)

| result = {{cr|RSA}} won by 32 runs

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/533278.html Scorecard]

| venue = Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Sooriyawewa, Sri Lanka

| umpires = Richard Kettleborough (Eng) and Rod Tucker (Aus)

| motm = AB de Villiers (SA)

| toss = Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field

}}

{{updated|1 September 2019}}

Three five-wicket hauls have been taken at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Sooriyawewa, all in men's limited-overs international matches.

• List of international cricket grounds in Sri Lanka

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/ground/434210.html ESPNcricinfo profile on Hambantota]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110204085926/http://worldcup2011schedule.com/suriyawewa-cricket-stadium-hambantota-sri-lanka/ Suriyawewa Cricket Stadium Hambantota Layout]
• [http://www.hambantotazone.com Guide to Hambantota]

{{Cricket in Sri Lanka}}

{{2012 ICC World Twenty20|state=collapsed}}

Category:Cricket grounds in Sri Lanka

Category:Buildings and structures in Hambantota District

Category:2009 establishments in Sri Lanka