Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium

Dambulla International Cricket Stadium is a 30,000 seat cricket stadium in Sri Lanka. The Stadium is situated in the North Central Province, close to Dambulla on a 60 acre site leased from the Rangiri Dambulla Temple. The stadium is built in a stunning location over looking the Dambulla Tank (reservoir) and the Dambulla Rock. The inaugural One Day International (ODI) match was played between Sri Lanka and England in March 2000. Floodlights were installed in 2003.

Situated in the dry zone, the original rationale behind the project was that it provided Sri Lanka with the potential to host one-day matches throughout the year. Construction was funded by the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCSL) and championed by the then BCCSL President, Thilanga Sumathipala. Constructed took only 167 days. After construction and the inaugural match it was starved of international cricket after complications with the lease and the contractors. International cricket finally returned in May 2003, the venue staging all seven matches of the tournament because of monsoon rains in the south.

The pitch is bowler friendly. Seamers benefit in the morning because of the high water table and heavy sweating. Spinners benefit in the afternoon when the pitch can crumble.