Sri Lanka and New Zealand have opened discussions on marking the upcoming centenary of cricketing ties between the two countries, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said on Friday.
Herath said he met New Zealand Cricket Deputy Chair Kevin Malloy at a luncheon in Wellington, where the two sides held what he described as “fruitful discussions” on the 100th anniversary commemoration.
The talks also covered enhanced cooperation in cricket development, including training opportunities for players, capacity-building programmes for officials, and the possible establishment of a cricket academy in Sri Lanka.
The minister called the meeting productive and said it reflected the strong sporting relationship between the two nations.
The cricket discussion comes during Herath’s official visit to New Zealand, which has also included bilateral talks with Foreign Minister Winston Peters, a Māori pōwhiri welcome in Wellington, and the inauguration of Sri Lanka’s new High Commission building.
Sri Lanka and New Zealand first met in international cricket in the 1920s through tour matches, and the bilateral relationship has since expanded into all formats, including Tests, ODIs and T20Is. The two boards have also engaged in coaching exchanges in recent years.
No date for a formal centenary programme was disclosed.
