Sri Lanka urged the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) to look into ways of bringing the event to emerging nations after Hambantota lost out to Australias Gold Coast in the bidding for the 2018 Games.
The CGF opted for Gold Coast by a 43-27 margin over the Sri Lankan city, its only rival, in a vote held in St Kitts and Nevis on Friday.
Sri Lankas bid, which focused on a theme of rebuilding the country after more than 25 years of civil war, had given the CGF something to think about, said Ajith Nivard Cabraal, head of Hambantotas bid committee.
"The fact that 27 countries thought our position was right was a good thing and maybe the Commonwealth (Games Federation) now needs to look how they should get emerging nations to come forward," Cabraal told Reuters by telephone from St Kitts and Nevis.
"We think we gave it our best shot. We have brought in a new thought to the Commonwealth.
"A defeat is a defeat and we have no excuse for that. It would have been fantastic to get the Games," said Cabraal, who is also the countrys central bank governor. "We have got our side conveyed to the rest of the world."
The bid committee had predicted a close contest with Sri Lanka getting at least 33 votes.
Hambantota is the constituency of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who had been aiming to change the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami-ravaged coastal city into a unique modern sports city through hosting the 2018 Games.