Ajith Nivard Cabraal, the co-chairman of Hambantota 2018, made the claim as a group of 12 representatives from the Caribbean travelled to Sri Lanka to begin an inspection of Hambantota's facilities.

The delegation included a group from St Kitts and Nevis, where the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) vote will take place on November 11 to pick the host city for 2018 where Hambantota will be facing only rivals the Gold Coast. 

"We are delighted to welcome our friends from the Caribbean to Sri Lanka and are looking forward to coming to St Kitts and  Nevis full of hope later this year," said Cabraal, who is also the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

Cabraal claimed that he hoped that the shared interest of cricket would help bond Sri Lanka and the Caribbean.

"We have long shared a passion for cricket," he said.

"You think of Antigua's Sir Vivian Richards, Andy Roberts and Richie Richardson.

"Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Frank Worrell, Sir Clyde Walcott, Sir Everton Weekes, Gordon Greenidge, Joel Garner and Malcolm Marshall from Barbados.

"And of course Cardigan Connor as Chef de Mission for Anguilla's Commonwealth Games team in 2002.

"But we also share an island culture and a passion for sport in general.

"Now we want to share our enthusiasm for these Games and show that other countries can get involved.

"Our bid will not only make a huge difference for our unified nation.

"It will give huge encouragement to the other 61 nations that have never hosted the Games and may wish to do so – including those from the Caribbean."

The Caribbean has only hosted the Commonwealth Games once, when Kingston, the Jamaican capital, staged the 1966 event, when the winners included Kenya's Kip Keino, who won the one mile and three miles.

Cabraal also hopes that if Hambantota host the Games it will help increase interest in sport beyond cricket, where they won the World Cup in 1996 and finished runners-up in 2007 despite only being admitted as a full Test playing nation in 1981. 

"It shows the talent is there but we just need a little inspiration and organisation," said Cabraal.

"This is one of the main reasons behind our bid.

"This is an extraordinary opportunity to get our young people energised in sport in general.

"We look at Malaysia; prior to hosting the Games in 1998 [in Kuala Lumpur] Malaysia's medal tally was four per Games but has risen to about 35 since.

"An extraordinary change has taken place as a result of hosting the Games; that's what we want to emulate."

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