| Ground Name: | R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium |
| Nickname: | Khettarama Stadium |
| Country: | Sri Lanka |
| Location: | Colombo |
| Coordinates: | 6.9397°N 79.872°W |
| Establishment: | 1986 |
| Seating Capacity: | 38,000[1] |
| Operator: | Sri Lanka Cricket |
| End1: | Khettarama End |
| End2: | Maligawatte End |
| International: | true |
| Firsttestdate: | 28 August – 2 September |
| Firsttestyear: | 1992 |
| Firsttesthome: | Sri Lanka |
| Firsttestaway: | Australia |
| Lasttestdate: | 14–18 July |
| Lasttestyear: | 2017 |
| Lasttesthome: | Sri Lanka |
| Lasttestaway: | Zimbabwe |
| Firstodidate: | 5 April |
| Firstodiyear: | 1986 |
| Firstodihome: | Sri Lanka |
| Firstodiaway: | New Zealand |
| Lastodidate: | 4 August |
| Lastodiyear: | 2024 |
| Lastodihome: | Sri Lanka |
| Lastodiaway: | India |
| Firstt20idate: | 10 February |
| Firstt20iyear: | 2009 |
| Firstt20ihome: | Sri Lanka |
| Firstt20iaway: | India |
| Lastt20idate: | 18 January |
| Lastt20iyear: | 2024 |
| Lastt20ihome: | Sri Lanka |
| Lastt20iaway: | Zimbabwe |
| Firstwodidate: | 29 March |
| Firstwodiyear: | 1999 |
| Firstwodihome: | Sri Lanka |
| Firstwodiaway: | Netherlands |
| Lastwodidate: | 17–18 November |
| Lastwodiyear: | 2016 |
| Lastwodihome: | Sri Lanka |
| Lastwodiaway: | England |
| Firstwt20idate: | 4 October |
| Firstwt20iyear: | 2012 |
| Firstwt20ihome: | England |
| Firstwt20iaway: | New Zealand |
| Lastwt20idate: | 26 May |
| Lastwt20iyear: | 2015 |
| Lastwt20ihome: | Sri Lanka |
| Lastwt20iaway: | West Indies |
| Year1: | 1986–present |
| Club1: | Sri Lanka national cricket team |
| Date: | 4 August |
| Year: | 2024 |
| Source: | Cricinfo CricketArchive |
The R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium (RPS) (Sinhala; Sinhalese: ආර්. ප්රේමදාස ක්රීඩාංගනය, Tamil: ஆர். பிரேமதாச அரங்கம்; formerly known as Khettarama Stadium) is a cricket stadium on Khettarama Road, in the Maligawatta suburb of Colombo, Sri Lanka. The stadium was, before June 1994, known as the Khettarama Cricket Stadium and is today one of the main venues where the Sri Lankan cricket team play, having hosted more than 100 one-day international matches. It is the largest stadium in Sri Lanka with a capacity of 38,000 spectators. It has hosted the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 final between Sri Lanka and West Indies; the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy final between Sri Lanka and India and first semi-final of the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup between Sri Lanka and New Zealand. This was where the highest Test score in history was recorded; 952 by Sri Lanka against India.[2] With capacity exceeding Lord's in England, the stadium is known as the "home of Sri Lankan cricket".
The Premadasa Stadium underwent a reconstruction project in preparation for the 2011 Cricket World Cup. The stadium has been undergoing large-scale renovations since 2009. It has had its seating capacity increase from 14,000 to 40,000, the media box accommodating 200 journalists, and other upgrades. The renovations have cost Sri Lanka Cricket $8 million.[3]
In July 2010, a report filed by the ICC pitch consultant, Andy Atkinson, raised concerns over the condition of the outfield and the pitch claiming he was worried at the slow pace of progress.[4] Although none of the buildings at the stadium was near completion, the 2nd Test of the West Indies tour of Sri Lanka in 2010, was held at the venue in 23–27 November. Sri Lanka Cricket defended choosing the stadium saying that the decision to stage a game was to allow cricketers to acclimatize themselves to the ground ahead of the World Cup games.[5] The Test match was staged using temporary seating for spectators in a corner of the stadium as only players' pavilions had permanent arrangements. Since the press box was not completed reporters and commentators facing technical difficulties used a makeshift arrangement.
The main four public stands were refurbished along with the player dressing room area and the corporate boxes. A VIP car park is at the northern end of the ground.
Pavilions A and B are fully equipped with seating in two tiers, lower and higher. Several corporate boxes are built in these two stands. Pavilions C and D are built between the scoreboard in the stadium with a two-tiered seating system. The lower tiers have concrete paving allocated for floor seating and the upper tier includes fully standard seating blocks. The grandstand and top-level block above the player pavilions have enhanced quality seating. Pavilions A and B give a moderate view of the scoreboard while the grandstand not only gives a good view of the scoreboard but also the game and pitch.
The R Premadasa Stadium hosted seven successful World Cup matches including a quarter-final and a semi-final. On 10 May 2011 Sri Lanka Cricket secretary Nishantha Ranatunga confirmed that the first edition of 2011 Sri Lanka Premier League's matches would play at R Premadasa Stadium. The tournament was later postponed till 2012 due to financial complications and internal regime change at Sri Lanka Cricket.
On 21 September 2011, it was announced that the stadium would host fifteen 2012 ICC World Twenty20 matches, including the semi-finals and the final.[6]
The Premdasa Stadium was chosen as one of the four venues to host the matches of the 2023 Asia Cup, which Sri Lanka were co-hosting along with Pakistan. The stadium hosted 5 out of the 6 Super Four matches, while also hosting the tournament final.
| Ground Figures | |||||||||
| Format | P | H | T | N | D/N/T | Inaugural Match | Latest Match | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test matches[7] | 9 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 28 August 1992 | 14 July 2017 | ||
| One-Day Internationals[8] | 144 | 78 | 39 | 19 | 8 | 4 April 1986 | 14 September 2023 | ||
| Twenty20 Internationals[9] | 44 | 6 | 22 | 15 | 1 | 10 February 2009 | 8 June 2022 | ||
In 1996 and 2011 ICC cricket world cups R. Premadasa Stadium hosted nine matches including a quarter-final match and a semi-final match. It has hosted the highest number of cricket World Cup matches in Sri Lanka.
See main article: 1996 Cricket World Cup.
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See main article: 2011 Cricket World Cup.
The 2002 ICC Champions Trophy was held in Sri Lanka. Nine matches were played in R. Premadasa Stadium including the semi-finals and the final. Other matches were played in SSC.
Sri Lanka hosted the 2012 ICC World Twenty20. Fifteen out of twenty-seven matches were played at R. Premadasa Stadium, including the semi-finals and the final. Other matches were played in Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium.
See main article: 2012 ICC World Twenty20.