The Esplanade, which when completed will become the Galle International Cricket Stadium, was open to all types of sports and social activities as it belonged to the Galle municipality. The BCCSL needed to get exclusive rights to transform it into a cricket stadium, which is a requirement of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Sri Lanka's ICC match referee Ranjan Madugalle is assisting the BCCSL in achieving its objectives.
At a high-powered meeting held this week, the BCCSL through Education and Higher Education Minister Richard Pathirana and Samurdhi, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister S.B. Dissanayake, received the go ahead to make Galle into an international cricket stadium. The Mayor of Galle, BCCSL president Thilanga Sumathipala, BCCSL regional president Mahinda Wijesekera and other officials of the BCCSL, were also present.
The BCCSL has committed itself to Rs. 10 million on the first stage of the project, and a further Rs. eight million on stage two, which will include indoor nets facilities etc. spreading over a period of 10 months.
Work on the project is going on as scheduled, according to the BCCSL president and he is hopeful that it will be completed in time to stage the second cricket Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand scheduled from June 3-7.
The venue is also scheduled to host three of the ten Independence Cup one-day matches on June 25, 27 and 29.
Former Pakistan opening batsman Talat Ali is expected in Colombo on May 17 as the ICC representative to inspect and report on the new stadium. All new cricket stadiums need to conform to certain requirements laid down by the ICC.