Cricket Grounds Dilemma in Central Province

The unavailability of cricket grounds in Kandy, Kurunegala and Kegalle has put some schools in a quandary compelling them to travel long distances to play their home matches and most of them during school days, thereby the students missing studies.

Though there are many grounds in the hill capital none was available for St. Sylvester's College to play their tournament match against Royal College, Panadura and they were compelled to travel a one way distance of 58 kilometres to Dambulla to honour this fixture. The Panadura team played the match on Thursday and Friday before returning to Panadura. They had to stay the first day at Dambulla. St. Sylvester's cricketers travelled to Dambulla from Kandy on both days, which resulted in a total travelling of approximately 240 kilometres for a home match.

Wayamba Royal College played their home match against Kingswood College at Peradeniya, a one way distance of 40 kilometres

Kegalu Vidyalaya and new entrants to school cricket Harangala MV, Kotmale with no resources at all travels all the way to Open Prison Camp grounds at Pallekele to play their home matches. One way distance is over 50 kilometres and the schools has no money to pay for travelling, umpires fees, meals and a ground hire charges and the cricketers pool their money to play their tournament matches, if they are to play cricket.

The ''Daily Mirror' understands that there is very heavy booking on the grounds by boys and girls schools for sports meets and other sports activities and practices resulting in matches being played outside their home town.

It is prudent that the Pallekele Cricket Stadium is made available to schools if it is not immediately required for foreign matches