A special commemorative cricket series is scheduled to be held in New Zealand in January 2027 to mark 100 years of historic cricket ties between Sri Lanka and New Zealand, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports said.
The matter was discussed during a meeting held today (31) between New Zealand High Commissioner to Sri Lanka David Pine and the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports at the Ministry premises.
According to the Ministry, the first historic cricket match between the two countries was played on October 17, 1937, when Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon. The special series is expected to be organized to commemorate the centenary of cricket relations between the two nations.
The Sports Minister has also accepted an official invitation extended by the New Zealand High Commissioner to participate in the commemorative series.
The discussions also focused on the development of rugby in Sri Lanka, implementing youth exchange programmes between the two countries, and obtaining support from the New Zealand Government to develop the skills of Sri Lankan youth.
The New Zealand High Commissioner expressed his agreement to provide full government support for these initiatives.
