Quick answer
A cricket-themed day in Colombo might start with a walk around the Cinnamon Gardens club grounds, the SSC, the Nondescripts, the Colombo Cricket Club and Bloomfield, or a domestic match at one of them, followed by lunch at the restored Racecourse grandstand. In the afternoon, visit the P Sara Oval or a nets session, then watch informal cricket on Galle Face Green at sunset and finish with a night match at the Premadasa or a sports bar.
Key takeaways
- Morning: the Cinnamon Gardens clubs or a domestic match.
- Lunch: the Racecourse grandstand.
- Afternoon: the P Sara Oval or a nets session.
- Sunset: informal cricket on Galle Face Green.
- Evening: a night match or a sports bar.
Morning: the club grounds
Start in Cinnamon Gardens, where the SSC and the Nondescripts Cricket Club sit side by side on Maitland Place, the Colombo Cricket Club is on Maitland Crescent and Bloomfield is on Reid Avenue. Walk between them on the leafy streets, stopping at each gate.
If a domestic match is on, settle in for a session. Entry is often free or cheap, crowds are small and regulars are happy to chat. If not, ask politely at the gates for a quick look.
Breakfast at a cafe near the Arcade at Independence Square sets you up for the day.
Weekend mornings are the best time for this part of the day, as club and school matches are more likely to be on, and the leafy streets are quieter. Bring water and a hat, as shade between the grounds is patchy.
- →SSC and NCC: Maitland Place.
- →CCC: Maitland Crescent.
- →Bloomfield: Reid Avenue.
Lunch: the Racecourse
The restored grandstand of the old Colombo Racecourse, on Reid Avenue, houses restaurants and cafes overlooking a ground now used for cricket and rugby. It is the easiest historic sporting building in the city to visit, and a pleasant place for lunch.
If you prefer local food, short-eats shops and rice and curry places in Borella, near the P Sara Oval, are cheap and good.
The National Museum and Viharamahadevi Park are a short walk away if you want a break from cricket.
Afternoon: the Oval or the nets
In the afternoon, visit the P Sara Oval in Borella, where Sri Lanka played its first Test in 1982. The ground is enclosed, so you may only see it from the gate unless a match is on.
Alternatively, book a nets session with a club or academy, where you can bat against local bowlers, often spinners. It is a memorable way to step onto a Sri Lankan ground.
Lankan Stays & Trails can arrange a driver for the day and help set up a nets session in advance, subject to the club's agreement.
- →P Sara Oval: Sri Lanka's first Test ground.
- →Nets: bat against local spinners.
- →Arrange in advance.
Sunset: Galle Face Green
As the heat fades, head to Galle Face Green, the seafront promenade, where families fly kites, vendors sell street food and children and adults play informal cricket on the grass and the sand. Visitors are often invited to join in.
The sunset over the Indian Ocean is one of Colombo's great sights, and the street food, isso vadai, kottu and fresh fruit, makes a fine early dinner.
Bring a little cash, and be careful with belongings in the crowds.
- →Informal cricket: on the grass.
- →Street food: isso vadai and kottu.
- →Sunset over the ocean.
Evening: a night match or a sports bar
If a night match is on at the R Premadasa Stadium, finish the day under the lights, with roughly 35,000 fans, bands and drums. Arrive early, as traffic around Maligawatte builds hours before the start.
If not, many Colombo bars and hotels show cricket on big screens, especially when Sri Lanka are playing abroad. The atmosphere can be lively, with local fans following every ball.
Agree a pick-up point with your driver, or use a metered or app-based tuk-tuk to get back to your hotel.
- →Night match: the Premadasa.
- →Or: a sports bar.
- →Plan the journey home.
Tips for the day
Check Sri Lanka Cricket's schedule for international and domestic matches before planning the day, and build around whatever is on.
Bring water, a hat and sunscreen, and dress modestly if you visit temples or mosques on the way. A tuk-tuk or car with a driver is the easiest way to link the stops.
The companion page on Colombo's cricket grounds in one day offers a route focused on the grounds themselves.
Frequently asked questions
What can cricket fans do in Colombo?
Cricket fans can walk the historic club grounds of Cinnamon Gardens, watch a domestic match, visit the P Sara Oval and the Premadasa, book a nets session, play informal cricket on Galle Face Green, and watch a night match or a game on a big screen in a sports bar.
Is there cricket on Galle Face Green?
Yes. Children and adults often play informal cricket on the grass and sand at Galle Face Green, especially in the late afternoon and at weekends. Visitors are often invited to join in. It is a fun way to meet locals at sunset.
Can I book a nets session in Colombo?
Some clubs and academies offer nets sessions for visitors, where you can bat against local bowlers. Arrange in advance through a club, an academy or a travel company, and check what equipment is provided.
Where can I watch cricket on TV in Colombo?
Many Colombo bars and hotels show cricket on big screens, especially when Sri Lanka are playing. The atmosphere can be lively. Ask your hotel for current recommendations, as venues change.
Can I combine a cricket day with sightseeing?
Easily. The National Museum, Viharamahadevi Park and Independence Square are close to the Cinnamon Gardens clubs, Pettah's markets are near the Premadasa, and Galle Face Green is a sight in itself.
How do I get around on a cricket day in Colombo?
A tuk-tuk or a car with a driver is the easiest way to link the stops, with walking in Cinnamon Gardens. Agree a fare in advance or use a metered or app-based tuk-tuk. Allow extra time on match days.
What if no match is on?
The day still works. See the club grounds and the P Sara Oval from the gates, book a nets session, play on Galle Face Green and watch a game in a sports bar. Domestic matches are often on somewhere, so ask locally.