AI-generated editorial illustration for Sri Express.
A World Cup fan zone opened on York Street outside Colombo’s Grand Oriental Hotel on 11 June, bringing football viewing into the historic Fort area.
Foreign Affairs and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath attended the opening. He said FIFA had agreed to support an international-standard stadium proposed for Kadolkale in Negombo, with preliminary legal work under way.
The minister linked football development with Sri Lanka’s sports tourism opportunities. He also referred to approved plans to modernise the Grand Oriental Hotel while preserving its heritage.
The fan zone offered a place to watch World Cup matches. The stadium remained a proposed development at the time of the announcement, with no opening date confirmed in the report.
Source: news.lk
