The Blessing of the Turf was done by Jaffna Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr.Thomas Savundaranayagam.
This turf wicket was a concept of Sanath Jayasuriya MP who together with Maj Gen. Udaya Perera & Brig. Thirinawu Karasu of SL Army made this a reality for the sportsmen of the North & East.
Sri Lanka Cricket Executive Committee unanimously approved the expenditure of Rs. 3 million on the Turf wicket & Rs. 5 million for the ground construction. SL Army played a major role by giving the manpower needed for this magnanimous venture.
The opening was followed by a T20 cricket match played by past national hero's Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan, Promodaya Wickramasinghe, Upul Chanadana, Ravindra Pushpakumara, Niroshan Bandarathilake & Lanka Silva, who took the field against the North & East Combined Under 23 team (SLC Under 23 Finalist). (SDF/KH)