Welagedara Stadium
Welagedara Stadium (Sinhala: වෙලගෙදර ක්රීඩාංගණය , Tamil: வெலகெதர விலையாட்டு அரங்கம்) is a multi-use stadium that are usually hosted international and local cricket matches and any other events in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka.The stadium can hold at least 10,000 spectators.The Stdium has been regularly hosted international tour matches, unofficial test matches and U19 one-day games.
 | |||||
| Ground information | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Kurunegala, North Western Province | ||||
| Establishment | 1972 | ||||
| Capacity | 10,000 | ||||
| Tenants | Wayamba Cricket Team (Cricket) | ||||
| End names | |||||
| City End Swimming Pool End | |||||
| International information | |||||
| First WODI | 5 May 2008: India v  Pakistan | ||||
| Last WODI | 11 May 2008: Sri Lanka v India | ||||
| Team information | |||||
| |||||
| As of 2 September 2020 Source: Cricinfo | |||||
The stadium is located at the Kurunegala-Dambulla Road, Kurunegala and 95 Km away from the Capital Colombo . The giant Elephant Rock that is situated from one side of the Stadium provides a dramatic backdrop for the Stadium.
Further information
Although the stadium was officially declared open by the then Minister of Home Affairs, Justice Felix Dias Bandaranaike in 1972,Stadium has long history along to the british colonial period.It has hosted its first international level match (As Welagedara Stadium) between Colts Cricket Club vs Pakistanis in 19,20,21 February of 1986 during the tour of Pakistani cricket team in Sri Lanka in 1985–86.
Some games of 2000 Under-19 Cricket World Cup and 2008 Women's Asia Cup were held on welagedara stadium successfully. Several international tour matches that are List A matches,U-19 games and Unofficial test matches and Club cricket games have been hosted by the Stadium since more than 30 years ago.Battle of the Rocks is the big match event that is regularly hosted between Maliyadeva College and St. Anne's College, Kurunegala with a long History and another popular big match called Battle of the Greens is usually held between Royal College Wayamba, Kurunegala and Sir John Kothalawala College in the stadium.
Notable Cricketers such as Rangana Herath, Lanka de Silva, Eric Upashantha have been produced to the national and international side from the big match Battle of the Rocks/Kurunegala Youth Cricket Club that stadium is the home of both.
