2026-02-17 / Oral Question: McHeyzer Stadium, Trincomalee: Development (Q.7/1452/2025) 2026-02-17
## Summary
The Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports provided a written answer regarding sports infrastructure in the Trincomalee District. He confirmed that the McHeyzer Stadium serves as the district's national-level competition venue, with development works largely complete — including a swimming pool, indoor sports complex, and 400-metre track — with only grandstand construction remaining. However, the Minister acknowledged that Trincomalee has no turf-pitch cricket stadium, as Sri Lanka Cricket has failed to secure suitable State land for approximately ten years despite ongoing discussions with the Trincomalee Municipal Council. He further noted that since 2016, three State lands in Ampara, Batticaloa, and Trincomalee were identified for development as international-standard district cricket grounds, but construction remains on hold as the lands have not yet been acquired, though funds have been allocated in Sri Lanka Cricket's 2026 budget.
Hon. Speaker, the answer is as follows:
(a)
- (i) There is a suitable stadium for national-level competitions: the McHeyzer Stadium.
- (ii) Development works at the McHeyzer Stadium are ongoing. The Department of Sports Development has taken over the ground. Works on the swimming pool, indoor sports complex and 400-metre track have been completed. Work on the grandstand is in its final stage.
- (iii) There is currently no turf-pitch cricket stadium in the Trincomalee District. For about ten years, Sri Lanka Cricket has been in discussions from time to time with the Trincomalee Municipal Council to obtain a suitable land for a cricket ground; to date, a State land has not been secured.
(b)
- (i) Development works at the McHeyzer Stadium are ongoing.
- (ii) No issues have arisen in carrying out development of the McHeyzer Stadium.
- (iii) Sri Lanka Cricket is taking steps to obtain a State land for the Trincomalee District Cricket Association to construct a leather ball cricket ground within the district.
(c)
- (i) Since 2016, three State lands—one each in Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee—were identified to be obtained through Sri Lanka Cricket and developed as district cricket grounds up to international standard. However, Sri Lanka Cricket has not been able to obtain the said lands to date.
- (ii) As Sri Lanka Cricket has not yet obtained the lands, construction is on hold. Funds have been allocated in Sri Lanka Cricket’s 2026 budget for these projects.
(d) Does not arise.