There was widespread shock last week when the Sri Lankan city, which is located on the South East coast of Sri Lanka and was badly hit by the tsunami in 2004, declared itself as a candidate to host the Games.

It has a population of only 15,000 but is at the centre of multi-million dollar investment with an airport, port and railway line currently under construction.

It is expected that the new 37,000-seater cricket ground being built in Hambantota for next year's cricket World Cup will be a centrepiece of the proposals for the Commonwealth Games but several million dollars are still expected to be needed to be spent on facilities to host the event which attracts 8,000 competitors and officials.

Clarke told the Gold Coast Bulletin: "They could be tough opponents even though it must be hard to imagine they have the accommodation necessary or have the facilities."

Clarke, formerly the world's top distance runner who won medals at three consecutive Commonwealth Games between 1962 and 1970, believes that the bid is an attempt by Hambantota to get more foreign investment.

He said: "I think they've been relying on other countries to make donations.

"Probably what I have the biggest doubts about is whether they will use those facilities in the future."

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