Mattala City
Mattala, a village in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, is renowned for its lush landscapes and proximity to natural attractions. Located near the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, it offers a serene escape with easy access to wildlife sanctuaries and pristine beaches. Visitors can explore the nearby Bundala National Park, famous for birdwatching, or relax on the quiet shores of Hambantota. The village provides a perfect blend of tranquility and adventure, making it an ideal destination for nature lovers and those seeking a peaceful retreat.
Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium
Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium better known as Sooriyawewa International Cricket Stadium, and abbreviately as MRIC Stadium, is an international cricket stadium in Hambantota, Sri Lanka. It was built for the 2011 Cricket World Cup and hosted two matches, the first being Sri Lanka against Canada, on 20 February 2011. The stadium has a capacity of 35,000 people making It the second largest stadium in Sri Lanka. The following 2011 Cricket World Cup matches were held at Hambantota International Cricket Stadium in February, 2011. The first official international match was between Sri Lanka and Canada on 20 February 2011, which Sri Lanka won by 210 runs. Two matches were played at the venue during the World Cup. The Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium hosted three 2012 ICC World Twenty20 matches. The curator of the ground is Ravi Dissanayake and Manager is Colonel Shanaka Ratnayake.
About Hambantota District
Hambantota is a rural town in southeastern coastal area of Sri Lanka. It is also the capital of the Hambantota District in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. Approximately 240 kms from Colombo, Hambantota is in the midst of transformation into a strategic port and commercial centre, undergoing extensive infrastructure development. Flanked by sweeping sandy beaches, Hambantota is a convenient location from which to visit nearby sights.
The Bundala National Park lays 20 km east of Hambantota and the Wirawila Sanctuary a little further off. The Ruhuna National Park and the Kataragama Temple are other attractions that can be accessed easily from this city.
About Southern Province
The Southern Province of Sri Lanka is a small geographic area consisting of the districts of Galle, Matara and Hambantota. Subsistence farming and fishing is the main source of income for the vast majority of the people of this region.
Important landmarks of the Southern Province include the wildlife sanctuaries of the Yala and Udawalawe National Parks, the holy city of Kataragama, and the ancient cities of Tissamaharama, Kirinda and Galle. (Although Galle is an ancient city, almost nothing survives from before the Portuguese invasion.) During the Portuguese period there were two famous Sinhalese poets called Andare who was from Dickwella and Gajaman Nona who was from Denipitiya in Matara District, composing poems on common man.