Sri Lanka's push to snatch the 2018 Commonwealth Games from the Gold Coast is stronger after the man behind Hambantota's bid was overwhelmingly endorsed in the country's general election.
Namal Rajapaksa, the eldest son of Sri Lanka's president Mahinda Rajapaksa, received more votes than any other candidate in history, polling more than 88 per cent.
Mr Rajapaksa proposed that Hambantota should bid for the Games, as the city recovered from the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami and the end of Sri Lanka's 26-year civil war.
He has already started the bid in earnest, meeting with bid document producer Nalin Attygalle about constructing a sports village and inspecting the construction of the proposed International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota, which is expected to be the centrepiece of the Games if they are awarded to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is expected to lodge their non-refundable deposit of $98,000 to confirm their bid with the Commonwealth Games Federation at its headquarters in London later this week before this Friday's deadline.
Mr Attygalle said `it's an enormous task, true, but it's not an impossible task'.
There are also plans to build a new international seaport, international airport, international convention centre and a cinema village before the end of next year and Sri Lanka is expected to seek private investment to fund the $2.7 billion of infrastructure needed.
Namal Rajapaksa, the eldest son of Sri Lanka's president Mahinda Rajapaksa, received more votes than any other candidate in history, polling more than 88 per cent.
Mr Rajapaksa proposed that Hambantota should bid for the Games, as the city recovered from the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami and the end of Sri Lanka's 26-year civil war.
He has already started the bid in earnest, meeting with bid document producer Nalin Attygalle about constructing a sports village and inspecting the construction of the proposed International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota, which is expected to be the centrepiece of the Games if they are awarded to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is expected to lodge their non-refundable deposit of $98,000 to confirm their bid with the Commonwealth Games Federation at its headquarters in London later this week before this Friday's deadline.
Mr Attygalle said `it's an enormous task, true, but it's not an impossible task'.
There are also plans to build a new international seaport, international airport, international convention centre and a cinema village before the end of next year and Sri Lanka is expected to seek private investment to fund the $2.7 billion of infrastructure needed.
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