The Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo is finally getting floodlights, a direct consequence of Sri Lanka co-hosting next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with India (February 7-March 8). Work on the towers, wiring and a modest facelift has already begun, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed on Wednesday.
Key fixtures come first. SSC’s first game under lights is set for 9 February, Oman v Zimbabwe, a 15:00 start that should end after dusk. The ground stages five group matches in all, beginning with Netherlands v Pakistan at 11:00 on 7 February and ending with Pakistan v United States, the only 19:00 kick-off, on 10 February. Just across town, the R Premadasa Stadium (still “Khettarama” to most locals) will handle at least eight matches and could host both the first semi-final and the final should Pakistan qualify. Pallekele, outside Colombo, picks up seven games.
Why is the upgrade significant? SSC and the nearby P Sara Oval remain the preferred Test venues in the capital because of their smaller, more traditional feel, whereas Khettarama carries the big-crowd, white-ball load. Installing permanent lights at SSC makes day-night Tests – a format Sri Lanka have never staged at home – that little bit more realistic.
SLC domestic cricket manager Chinthaka Edirimanne put it plainly. “Lights at SSC have been talked about for almost 20 years,” he said. “With the World Cup deadlines, we could finally push the button.” Former Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne has long backed a pink-ball Test in Colombo, arguing last year that “even one day-night match each series would bring new fans after work.”
The timeline is tight. Contractors have roughly ten weeks to finish the towers, lay new cables and test the Lux readings required by the ICC. Administrators insist the existing pitch square and outfield will not be touched, avoiding the drainage problems that plagued early projects at other grounds.
Beyond the big show, SLC hopes the investment pays back through more domestic night matches and the option to alternate day-night Tests between SSC and Galle. “It’s an expensive piece of kit, so it can’t sit idle,” Edirimanne added.
India-Sri Lanka 2026 – the first T20 World Cup split between the two neighbours – will run across five Indian venues and three in Sri Lanka. Ticket details are expected before year-end; fixture dates are already public on the ICC website.
No one at SSC is promising a revolution, just longer hours of cricket. For the club’s members, who often drift in after office hours, that might be change enough.
