Aluvihare Stadium in disarray

by S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen

The Under 19 boys and girls hockey championship got off to a disastrous start due to the Bernard Aluvihare Stadium not maintained and being in a pathetic state to conduct the important tournament..

Matale which is supposed to be the 'cradle' of hockey in Sri Lanka and the Bernard Aluvihare Stadium standing out as a historic venue for hockey which so many top players have emerged looked a sorry sight when all hockey playing girls and boys schools gathered to play in the schools under 19 championships.

The start was delayed due to the graas not being cut and the playing surface not being maintained.

Many say that it was a sad state o affairs as hockey at the place called the cradle in Sri Lanka which has produced the Wijekoon's, Rupasinghe brothers, Jayatissa'sand the Hettiarachchi's who strode the local hockey arena like the colossus not being maintained