• SL’s national stadium in dire straits

The Sugathadasa Stadium, once the cradle of sport in Sri Lanka, will soon see its death notice pasted on the walls of Colombo. The once-glorious stadium, which was once the epicentre of the 1991 and 2006 South Asian Games and many more, has fallen apart with its facilities and outlook at an all-time low. 

The stadium’s running track has been worn out and has not been relaid in more than five years, making it prone to cause accidents and injuries. Meanwhile, the technical rooms, including the timing room, media facilities, washrooms, and other basic necessities are lamentably substandard.

National stadiums around the world have a special aura unique to a nation’s heritage and imbue pride in its people when entering the venue. However, in Sri Lanka’s so-called finest facility for sport, the moment one walks in, one feels ashamed and saddened by its dilapidated state. 

Against this backdrop, The Sunday Morning Sports decided to look into the life and times of the once-glorious Sugathadasa Stadium. 

The rock bottom state of the national stadium is evident in its dilapidated staircases to lights and wires hanging from all corners in the media, technical, and timing rooms to unsavoury washroom facilities. 

Speaking to The Sunday Morning Sports, sources and whistleblowers within the Sugathadasa National Sports Complex Authority (SNSCA) who wished to remain anonymous shared insights regarding the deep-rooted corruption and mismanagement over the years. 

Speaking to the media, SNSCA Chairman Udara Rathnayake noted that he was relatively new to the position of chairperson and pointed out that his predecessors could have done much more to prevent or mitigate the current state of affairs.

Whoever wins the upcoming Presidential Election will have their work cut out for them to bring back the glory days of the national stadium – the pride of a nation’s sporting identity which has been in disrepair for years – returning a long-lost sense of respect to Sri Lankan athletes.

History of Sugathadasa Stadium 

According to the archives of renowned sports journalist the late Elmo Rodrigopulle, the Sugathadasa Stadium opened in 1962 was the brainchild of Sri Lanka’s first Minister of Sports V.A. Sugathadasa, who was also Minister of Nationalised Services in the Dudley Senanayake Government. 

Sugathadasa, hailing from St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena, adjacent to the stadium, was a brilliant striker in football and a champion wrestler. He commissioned a dumping ground adjoining the Prince of Wales Park and paved the way for a new stadium. The stadium catered to football and athletics, with many international teams playing at the new stadium. 

However, after a few years, the stadium fell into a state of neglect and then Prime Minister R. Premadasa, who was also a footballer, moved to revamp the stadium. He called a meeting of the business community at the Sugathadasa Stadium, requesting them to contribute to this cause. 

The businessmen pledged their financial support to reconstruct the stadium to international standards, with no cost to the Government. Later, Premadasa turned the trolley bus garage adjacent to the stadium into the International Indoor Stadium, in time for the 1991 South Asian Games.

While the Sugathadasa National Sports Complex was absorbed into the Sports Ministry to function as a trust from 1 February 1995, Act No.17 of 1999 was presented to Parliament to convert the Sugathadasa National Sports Stadium to an authority. Through this act, the SNSCA was established with effect from 1 September 1999.

Stadium revenue

The Sugathadasa Stadium is a loss-making entity, as clearly shown in its previous annual reports, which is now public knowledge amongst the sporting community. The Chairperson of the SNSCA has always been a political appointee since its inception, changing with each new government. 

The Sunday Morning Sports spoke to SNSCA Stadium Manager – Outdoor Prabha Kiriella, who has held her position for 14 years and is the only woman to have held this post. She was also the first female manager of the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium prior to this appointment. 

“We charge a nominal fee of Rs. 100 for athletes to train. We also rent the stadium for school and private sports meets for Rs. 125,000,” said Kiriella. That fee for the whole stadium is a bargain when compared to other venues in the capital, which charge exorbitant prices for mere namesake playgrounds. 

Meanwhile, the massive main entrance at the stadium is under construction. A staff member who wished to remain anonymous pointed out that the expenditure for this was in the tens of millions and that these constructions were being undertaken while the real issues went unnoticed. 

Infrastructure deficiencies 

Upon investigation, it was revealed that the SNSCA lacked a marketing department to promote the country’s only national stadium. This is a vital area where funds can be easily attracted through major corporate sponsorships. 

Many global sporting arenas which faced closure were approached by global and local commercial giants, which turned failing stadiums into iconic venues. However, such initiatives appear impossible in Sri Lanka, where responsible authorities have failed to implement any such plans. 

At the recent President’s Trophy Rugby Knockouts, the writer, who covered four games on two separate days, had to be seated amongst spectators due to the lack of a functioning media room. Nonetheless, the primary concern of the writer and everyone watching the game was about the score, as the stadium currently lacks a functioning scoreboard. 

The situation is dire when compared to regional counterparts. In Tamil Nadu alone, there are six functioning mega stadiums with synthetic tracks. Although the State is twice the size of Sri Lanka, it’s the closest comparison that can be made with neighbouring countries. While Sri Lanka has two synthetic tracks – Sugathadasa and Diyagama – both tracks are subpar. 

Shifting locations 

It is somewhat ironic to note that some of the premier colonial-era schools originated in the Colombo Fort, Pettah, and Mutwal areas. S. Thomas’ College had its origins in Mutwal, while Royal College and Wesley College began at San Sebastian Hill and Dam Street, respectively, surrounding Hulftsdorp (Aluthkade) and Pettah. 

This was due to the Pettah, Colombo Fort, Hulftsdorp, Grandpass, Mutwal, and Mattakkuliya areas being the best residential parts of the city until the 1800s. The once illustrious Whist Bungalow in Mutwal was the grandest house in the 19th century, while today it is a mere piece of nostalgia. 

With the shift of the city’s geopolitical landscape, the schools and communities moved and past grandeur gradually faded away. However, to-date, there is charm in certain parts of the town that are sadly neglected.

“It is quite evident that Colombo 11-15 have often been overlooked when it comes to city beautification and other major developments over the years. One might ponder what the situation would have been if the Sugathadasa Stadium was located in the heart of Cinnamon Gardens,” said Rev. Fr. Joseph Perera from Kotahena. 

Public concern 

A few sports enthusiasts shared their views with The Sunday Morning Sports regarding the grave situation at the Sugathadasa Stadium. 

Ranga Wimalawansa, former athlete 

Anyone and everyone is permitted to use the track whilst Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA) has completely neglected its duties to regulate the kind of athletic events conducted at the stadium. SLA should intervene to look into these matters as it is the body in charge of our nation’s athletics; it isn’t stepping in despite being capable of doing so. Most of the SLA officials have been holding office for decades. Where is the progress of the sport?  

In cricket, they know how to earn money and monetise. There is a structure with designated clubs and facilities. Athletics has brought our country two Olympic medals and many Asian medals, so this is an area where funds could be attracted in multiple ways. However, there is no promotion of the sport. A few veteran athletes have rallied privately to build a 200 m indoor track, but the right people need to be at the helm.

SLA Secretary Saman Kumara

A key reason for the ever-growing issue, especially with the track at Sugathadasa, is that this stadium was built on a former garbage dump. Although several decades have passed since its construction, the aftereffects are still prevalent. 

Even to date there is heavy moisture beneath the tracks on account of the remnants of the garbage dump and also in the surrounding areas of the stadium, which have traditionally been connected with canals and other water sources. Regardless of patch-up work, there is a tendency for flaws. 

We cannot expect a perfect track unless there is complete revamp of the stadium with the use of advanced technology to mitigate these perennial issues. In the meantime, the regulating authority should have a stance on ground and track bookings and usage, as the facility is given for events and meets without verifying standards. Schools and other organisations can conduct their sports meets elsewhere, as this is a purpose-built stadium. Priority should be given to national events. 

An international athlete manager

Sri Lanka has seen much improvement in track and field over the last two years. Our athletes, with or without the best facilities in the country, have given their best. This is just one way that the authorities can appreciate and support these athletes who bring glory to the country. 

I hope and pray that the authorities can make sure that they provide the best possible facilities in order to see this sport take one more step forward. 

The Sunday Morning Sports refrained from reaching out to the Sri Lankan Olympic athletes who participated in the Paris 2024 Games for comment as several insiders pointed out that these athletes may get sidelined if they were to comment on the issue.