Quick answer
Cricket stadium architecture in Sri Lanka ranges from colonial-era club pavilions in Colombo's Cinnamon Gardens, such as the SSC and the P Sara Oval, and the restored grandstand of the Colombo Racecourse, to the R Premadasa Stadium's 1980s concrete bowl, Galle's pavilion rebuilt after the 2004 tsunami and the modern grounds of Pallekele, Dambulla and Hambantota, with floodlights and, at Pallekele, grass banks.
Key takeaways
- Colombo's club grounds have colonial-era pavilions.
- The Racecourse's restored grandstand is the finest colonial sporting building.
- The Premadasa is a 1980s concrete bowl built for mass crowds.
- Galle's pavilion was rebuilt after the 2004 tsunami.
- Pallekele, Dambulla and Hambantota are modern, floodlit grounds.
Colonial pavilions
The oldest cricket buildings in Sri Lanka are the club pavilions of Colombo, built for the community-based clubs of the colonial era. They are modest by the standards of English county grounds, with verandas, balconies, honours boards and members' rooms, designed for shade and conversation as much as for watching.
The SSC, the NCC, the Colombo Cricket Club, Bloomfield and the Tamil Union's P Sara Oval all have pavilions that have been rebuilt or extended over the years, but the club character survives.
Asgiriya in Kandy, Trinity College's ground, adds steep terraced banks and school buildings above the field, one of the most atmospheric settings on the island.
- →Verandas, balconies, honours boards.
- →Designed for shade and conversation.
- →Asgiriya: terraced banks.
The Racecourse grandstand
The finest colonial sporting building in Colombo is the grandstand of the old Racecourse on Reid Avenue, built for horse racing and later restored as part of a sports and leisure complex. Its long facade and balconies overlook a ground now used for cricket and rugby.
Because the building houses shops and restaurants, it is the easiest historic sporting building to visit, and it is especially photogenic in the late afternoon.
Nearby, the Arcade at Independence Square shows a similar approach to reusing colonial buildings.
The Premadasa bowl
The R Premadasa Stadium, opened in 1986, marked a break with the club tradition. A concrete bowl with stands all the way round and floodlight towers above, it was built for mass crowds in a working-class district rather than for members in Cinnamon Gardens.
Its design reflects the growth of cricket as a mass game in Sri Lanka, and its scale, roughly 35,000, makes it the largest ground on the island.
The building is best appreciated full, under lights, when the bowl glows against the night sky.
- →Opened: 1986.
- →A concrete bowl with floodlights.
- →Built for mass crowds.
Galle: rebuilt beside a fort
Galle International Stadium sits on the Esplanade below the Dutch fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which shapes what can be built there. After the 2004 tsunami destroyed much of the ground, a new pavilion and stands were built, and the ground reopened in 2007.
Debates over permanent stands and the fort's heritage status have continued, and temporary stands are often used for big series. The result is a ground where the fort, not the stadium, dominates the view.
The old clock tower and the ramparts above the ground are the architectural stars.
- →Rebuilt after 2004.
- →Shaped by the fort's heritage status.
- →Temporary stands for big series.
Pallekele, Dambulla and Hambantota
The grounds built in the 2000s and early 2010s are modern stadiums with floodlights, media facilities and large capacities. Pallekele, opened in 2009, combines stands with grass banks that follow the contours of the valley, giving it an informal, natural feel.
Rangiri Dambulla, built quickly around 2000, sits beside a reservoir, and the Hambantota stadium, built for the 2011 World Cup, is a large, open ground in flat country.
Lankan Stays & Trails can plan an architecture-minded cricket trip, combining the grounds with Colombo's colonial buildings, Galle Fort and the ancient cities.
- →Pallekele: stands and grass banks.
- →Dambulla: beside a reservoir.
- →Hambantota: large and open.
Tips for architecture lovers
Visit the Colombo club grounds and the Racecourse on a single walk through Cinnamon Gardens, and Galle's ramparts at sunrise or sunset. Pallekele and Dambulla are best seen from their approach roads or during a match.
Ask before photographing inside pavilions, and respect members' areas. Some clubs may allow a look at their honours boards if asked politely.
Combine the grounds with Colombo's other colonial buildings, such as the Dutch Hospital and the old Parliament, and with Galle Fort's churches and warehouses.
- →Cinnamon Gardens: a walking route.
- →Galle: sunrise or sunset.
- →Ask before photographing inside.
Frequently asked questions
What is the oldest cricket pavilion in Sri Lanka?
Colombo's club grounds, such as the SSC, the NCC, the Colombo Cricket Club, Bloomfield and the P Sara Oval, have the oldest pavilion traditions, though most buildings have been rebuilt or extended over the years. Records are patchy, so naming a single oldest pavilion is difficult.
What is the Colombo Racecourse grandstand?
The grandstand of the old Colombo Racecourse on Reid Avenue was built for horse racing in the colonial era and later restored as part of a sports and leisure complex. It now overlooks a ground used for cricket and rugby and houses shops and restaurants.
When was the Premadasa Stadium built?
The R Premadasa Stadium was built in the 1980s on marshland at Khettarama, Maligawatte, and opened in 1986. Its concrete bowl design, with stands all round and floodlights, was built for mass crowds and marked a break with Colombo's club grounds.
Was Galle stadium rebuilt after the tsunami?
Yes. The 2004 tsunami destroyed much of Galle International Stadium, including the pavilion and stands. A new pavilion and stands were built, and the ground reopened in December 2007. The fort's heritage status shapes what can be built there.
Why does Pallekele have grass banks?
Pallekele's design combines stands with grass banks that follow the contours of the valley east of Kandy. The banks give it an informal, natural feel and allow large crowds to watch informally, a popular feature with families and groups.
Can I photograph cricket pavilions in Sri Lanka?
Pavilions can usually be photographed from outside or from public stands. Inside, ask first, as members' areas may be private. The Racecourse grandstand, with its public cafes, is the easiest historic building to photograph.
Which stadium is the most interesting architecturally?
For colonial architecture, the Colombo Racecourse grandstand and the SSC pavilion. For setting, Galle beside the fort. For modern design, the Premadasa's bowl and Pallekele's banks. Each tells a different chapter of Sri Lanka's cricket story.