De Soysa Stadium
| Ground information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Moratuwa, Western Province | ||
| Establishment | 1952 | ||
| Capacity | 16,000 | ||
| Owner | Moratuwa Sports Club | ||
| Operator | Sri Lanka Cricket | ||
| End names | |||
| Press Box End Katubadda End |
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| International information | |||
| First Test | 8–13 September 1992: Sri Lanka v  Australia |
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| Last Test | 8–13 December 1993: Sri Lanka v  West Indies |
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| First ODI | 31 March 1984: Sri Lanka v  New Zealand |
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| Last ODI | 14 August 1993: Sri Lanka v  India |
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| Team information | |||
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| As of 2 December 2014 Source: Cricinfo |
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De Soysa Park Stadium (formerly known as Tyronne Fernando Stadium) is a multi-use stadium in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.[1]
It is currently used mostly for cricket matches. The stadium holds 15,000 people and hosted its first Test match in 1992. The ground opened in 1940 and gained Test status in 1979. Moratuwa, located just eight miles (13 km) south of Colombo is renowned for its carpentry, cricket and its philanthropists. Indeed it was the most famous of these families that initiated the development of De Soysa Park Stadium, when they donated the 5 acre (20,000 sq m) plot of land to the Urban Council in 1940, to develop the Sports Complex. An additional 2 acres were sold under its market value by another member of the family. The ground was named De Soysa Park and subsequently used mainly for Moratuwa Sports Club (MSC) and school competitions.
![[1]](http://p.imgci.com/db/PICTURES/DB/082001/029343.jpg){kind=link}
Albert Hildebrand Theodore de Soysa was a Ceylonese entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was the second son of Solomon Peter de Soysa, the Managing Director of the business concerns of cousin Sir Charles Henry de Soysa. He attended Trinity College, Kandy and went on to become its greatest benefactor by financing several building projects including the college hall.
In 1940, de Soysa initiated the development of the De Soysa Park as a venue for sports and recreation by gifting a 5 acre (20,000 sq m) plot of land and purchasing an additional 2 acres. It was intended for cricket, other sports and public use. It was again de Soysa that assisted the call for putting up the first stadium/pavilion in 1952. His other benefactions include the Ingiriya Hospital [2], the Gamini Central College and the Christ Church, Ingiriya (Kalutara District).
The club, its presidents D. H. L. De Silva, Dr. H. I. Fernando and local MP Wimalasiri De Mel took a keen interest in developing it further. In 1979 Moratuwa received public funds from the then Deputy Foreign Minister, Tyronne Fernando. A stadium was built, which could accommodate approximately 16,000 spectators.
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