The Colombo Racecourse cricket ground

Colombo's Racecourse was laid out in the colonial era, when horse racing was a fashionable pursuit for the city's elite. The grandstand, with its colonial architecture, became one of Cinnamon Gardens' landmarks.

Racing in Colombo ended in the twentieth century, and the site had various uses over the following decades. The grandstand was later restored, and the ground was redeveloped for sport.

Its history makes it a rare survivor: a colonial sporting building given new life rather than demolished.

Colombo was not the only racing venue on the island: Nuwara Eliya's racecourse, in the hill country, still holds races during the April season, a reminder of how popular racing once was among the colonial elite and local gentry.

The Racecourse ground is now used for cricket and rugby, with matches at domestic and sometimes representative level. Floodlights allow evening games.

The restored grandstand overlooks the field, giving spectators a fine setting, and its building houses shops, cafes and restaurants.

Use of the ground varies, and fixtures are best checked locally, as the venue is shared between sports.

The restored grandstand is the main reason to visit for those interested in architecture. Its colonial design, with balconies and a long facade, is a reminder of Colombo's colonial sporting life.

The building is open to the public through its shops and restaurants, which makes it easier to see than many club pavilions.

Photographers will find the grandstand especially attractive in the late afternoon light.

The Racecourse sits on Reid Avenue close to Colombo University, Independence Square and the Arcade, a restored colonial complex with shops and cafes. Bloomfield is close by, and the SSC, NCC and CCC are a short walk or ride away.

The National Museum and Viharamahadevi Park are also nearby, so the Racecourse fits easily into a morning or afternoon of sightseeing.

Lankan Stays & Trails can plan a Colombo cricket day that combines the Racecourse with the club grounds and the bigger stadiums.

If a cricket or rugby match is on, spectators can often watch from the grandstand, sometimes for free or a small charge. Evening matches under floodlights are especially pleasant.

Bring water and a hat for day matches, and check the rules on entry and photography at the gate.

Without a match, the grandstand's shops and restaurants are open, and the ground can be seen from the building.

Matches at the Racecourse are usually relaxed, with modest crowds and a mix of club members, families and passers-by who drop in from the grandstand's cafes. The setting, with the colonial building as a backdrop, makes even a domestic match feel like an occasion.

Rugby has a long tradition in Colombo, and if a rugby match is on instead of cricket, it is well worth watching, as crowds can be lively and the standard high.

The Racecourse is one of the most attractive sports venues in Colombo, and one of the easiest to visit. It combines cricket, colonial architecture and a place to eat.

For cricket lovers, it adds another ground to a Cinnamon Gardens walk, and for others, it is a pleasant stop in the city.

It also shows how Colombo has reused its colonial buildings, alongside the Arcade and the Dutch Hospital.