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Lanka monk pledges support for stadium
Jan 18, 2001, 13:15 Hrs (IST)

Colombo: A highly respected Buddhist monk has said that he is even prepared to go to jail to make sure the construction of an international stadium becomes a reality, local media has quoted him as saying.

Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Thera, the chief prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter, made his intention public after he made an inspection tour of the construction site of the international stadium in Dambulla, about 200 km from here last week.

The stadium is to be officially declared open for a One-day International between Sri Lanka and England on March 23.

He said thought the Buddhist Commissioner's department has not approved any such project, we have already given our consent for the construction of the stadium on land that belongs to our Chapter, he said.

''The Executive Council of the Asgiriya Chapter decided to hand over the land to the Sri Lanka Cricket Board for the construction of the stadium as cricket has become the most important sport in the country,'' the Thera said.

UNI