Today is a red-letter day for Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium. Exactly 25 years ago, to this very day, the venue hosted its maiden international, Sri Lanka locking horns with England and in the quarter-century since, the ground has grown from a bold gamble into one of the country’s prized cricketing possessions.

From Sachin Tendulkar’s silken drives to Dale Steyn’s thunderbolts, the game’s greats have left their imprint here. Dambulla has seen it all, high-octane contests, spin clinics and finishes that have gone down to the wire.

The brainchild of former SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala, Dambulla was not built on a whim but on a clear game plan. Sri Lanka, weary of rain playing spoilsport and washing games down the drain, needed a venue in the dry zone. A study into the country’s driest regions pointed squarely to Dambulla, centrally located, easily accessible and, crucially, less at the mercy of the weather gods.

If location was the first box ticked, aesthetics were the icing on the cake. Perched along the Colombo – Sigiriya road, the ground offers a view that can take your breath away. Climb up to the main stand and you are greeted by a sea of green, with the serene Ibbankatuwa Tank glistening in one corner. Sunsets here are straight out of a postcard. In another corner looms the historic Dambulla Rock, where King Valagamba, in exile, regrouped before marching back to reclaim his kingdom from south Indian invaders. Cricket here, quite literally, is played in the shadow of history.

Dambulla isn’t just a cricket ground. This is part of Thilanga’s visionary thinking. He wanted the game to trickle down to the grassroots, to take cricket out of Colombo’s comfort zone and into the heartland. The response has been overwhelming. Whenever the big boys roll into town, the stands are packed to the rafters and when space runs out, fans perch on nearby trees just to catch a glimpse, a reminder that cricket, in this part of the country, is more than a game; it is a way of life.

The stadium itself was built in double-quick time, a project fast-tracked with military precision. Former captains Bandula Warnapura and Duleep Mendis, then part of the SLC set-up, oversaw the construction, ensuring the ground was ready to host top-flight cricket without missing a beat. Sujeewa Godaliyadda, now SLC Treasurer, has been part of the furniture here from day one, guarding the venue like the apple of his eye.

Back in 2001, the surrounding area was little more than a quiet outpost. Fast forward to today and the landscape has changed beyond recognition, hotels, restaurants and supermarkets have sprung up, proof that cricket has been a catalyst for economic growth. The ripple effect has been unmistakable; livelihoods have improved and the region has been put firmly on the map.

Of course, the journey has not always been smooth sailing. At times, Dambulla was left out in the cold, sidelined due to petty politics while other venues were given the nod. Hambantota’s Suriyawewa had its moment in the sun, but when rain threatens to play havoc, Dambulla remains the trump card. Unlike some white elephants, this ground delivers when it matters.

In recent years, the venue has come back into its own. Floodlights have been upgraded, state-of-the-art training facilities have been added and Dambulla is now being groomed as a Centre of Excellence. A new media centre is in the pipeline, while expansion plans are on the drawing board to meet the ever-growing demand from fans eager to soak in cricket in this picturesque setting.

by Rex Clementine

There is another defection from the Pakistan Super League (PSL), with Dasun Shanaka moving to the Indian Premier League (IPL). Shanaka is set to be signed by the Rajasthan Royals for the upcoming season, coming in as a replacement for the injured Sam Curran, who was earlier ruled out of IPL 2026.

‎‎A top Royals official confirmed the signing to Cricbuzz. “Yes, we’re close to signing him,” an official of the franchise told this website. “A few formalities are pending. He has to complete some paperwork with Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC)”

‎‎Shanaka had remained unsold at the Abu Dhabi mini-auction last December following which he enrolled for the PSL auction, where he was bought by Lahore Qalandars for PKR 75 lakh.

‎‎Shanaka is the second player in recent times to shift to the IPL from the PSL. Blessing Muzarabani of Zimbabwe pulled out of his contract with Islamabad United to join Kolkata Knight Riders, who signed him in place of Mustafizur Rahman. The famous case of PSL to IPL jump, of course, was of South Africa’s Corbin Bosch last year, when he had spurned a Peshawar Zalmi gig to join Mumbai Indians last year.

‎‎The PSL reacted strongly, banning him for a year. However, its policy of scheduling the league concurrently with the IPL – ostensibly to ensure the availability of overseas players – appears to be backfiring, with foreign players opting to withdraw from the PSL when an IPL opportunity came their way. Cricbuzz reached out to the Lahore Qalandars for a comment.

‎‎The choice of Dasun Shanaka by the Rajasthan Royals is hardly surprising. Head coach Kumar Sangakkara is a Sri Lankan, while assistant coach Vikram Rathour worked with Sri Lanka as batting coach during the T20 World Cup, where Shanaka was the country’s captain. Though the co-hosts failed to reach semifinals, Shanaka impressed with two half-centuries in the tournament.

‎‎Meanwhile, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi addressed the media in Lahore on Sunday regarding changes to the PSL operations and venues and hinted that the board may initiate legal action against players who have breached their PSL contracts. (Cricbuzz)

St. Servatius’ College ended more than five decades of frustration when they defeated arch rivals St. Thomas’ College by five wickets in the annual Battle of the Blues encounter concluded at the Uyanwatta Stadium on Sunday.‎The victory marked a historic moment for the Servatians as they recorded their first big match win in 55 years, the previous triumph coming in 1971 under the captaincy of Nimal Munaweera.

‎Sri Lanka Under-19 player Viran Chamuditha played a decisive role in the thrilling run chase, producing a superb knock of 81 runs to guide his team towards the target of 178. His innings laid the foundation before an unbroken sixth wicket partnership of 64 runs between Thathsilu Bandara and skipper Chamarindu Nethsara sealed the memorable victory.

‎Despite entering the encounter as favourites, St. Servatius’ struggled in their first innings and were bowled out for 118 runs in reply to St. Thomas’ total of 158.

‎However, the Servatian bowlers turned the game in the second innings. Lasindu Ramanayake ripped through the Thomian batting line-up with a brilliant seven-wicket haul, while Chamuditha supported well with three wickets as St. Thomas’ were dismissed setting a target of 178.

‎The run chase began shakily for St. Servatius’ as they lost wickets at regular intervals and were reduced to 29 for four at one stage. Chamuditha then steadied the innings with a crucial fifth-wicket stand of 87 runs with Bandara.

‎Chamuditha’s fighting knock of 81 came off 92 balls and includeeven boundaries before he was eventually dismissed. Bandara held firm at the other end and remained unbeaten on 42 off 149 deliveries, while skipper Nethsara contributed an unbeaten 34 as the pair calmly guided their side to a famous win.

‎The victory sparked jubilant scenes among Servatian supporters as the team finally broke a 55-year deadlock in the prestigious Matara big match. (RF)