REFUGEE

The International Cricket Council (ICC) officials who visited Sri Lanka to inspect the venues where the World Cup 2011 teams would be playing expressed their satisfaction on the two stadiums under construction.

Addressing a press briefing held Monday in Colombo, ICC spokesman James Fitzgerald and ICC chief Curator Andy Atkinson said they are very pleased with the three venues and all three venues will be world class, in terms of player, spectator, media, and most importantly playing conditions.

Sri Lanka is to host 12 matches of the 2011 World Cup tournament including a semi final at three venues.

Two new venues are being constructed by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), one in Pallekale in the hill country and the other in Sooriyawewa in Hamabnthota. The third venue, the much used R. Premadasa Stadium is being refurbished to a state-of-the-art venue with a brand new media box.

Both Sooriyawewa and Pallekale stadiums are being built with state-of-the-art facilities to be world class venues capable of hosting day night games.

According to SLC Sooriyawewa international stadium constructed on a 47 acre land has the capacity to host 33,000 spectators and parking facilities are for 1200 vehicles. Pallekale constructed on an 18 acre land has a 27,000 spectator capacity with a parking facility for 700 automobiles.