Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium,[1] also known as Sooriyawewa International Cricket Stadium (Sinhala: මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ ජාත්යන්තර ක්රිකට් ක්රීඩාංගනය, Tamil: மஹிந்த ராஜபக்ஷ சர்வதேச துடுப்பாட்டு அரங்கம்), and abbreviately as MRIC Stadium, is an international cricket stadium in Sooriyawewa, Sri Lanka. It was built for the 2011 Cricket World Cup and hosted two matches, the first being Sri Lanka against Canada, on 20 February 2011. The stadium has a capacity of 35,000 people making It the second largest stadium in Sri Lanka.
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.[2]
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.[3] 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.[4][5] The ministers of opposition criticize that former government has hidden the true story of actual cost for its construction.[6] 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.[7]
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.[8]
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.[9][10] Following the urge from health officials, all 23 matches would be held in Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium.[11][12] In 2021 venue hosted 2021 Lanka Premier League Playoffs matches as well.
In 2011, Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium hosted two World Cup matches.
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.
Three five-wicket hauls have been taken at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Sooriyawewa, all in men's limited-overs international matches.