Quick answer
Sri Lanka's former Test venues are Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy, Trinity College's ground, which hosted Tests from 1983 to 2007; the Colombo Cricket Club ground on Maitland Crescent, which hosted a few Tests in the mid-1980s; and the Tyronne Fernando Stadium in Moratuwa, which hosted a handful in the early 1990s. The current Test grounds are Galle, the SSC, the P Sara Oval, the Premadasa and Pallekele.
Key takeaways
- Eight grounds have hosted Tests in Sri Lanka; five still do.
- Asgiriya, Kandy, hosted Tests from 1983 to 2007.
- The Colombo Cricket Club ground hosted a few Tests in the mid-1980s.
- Moratuwa's Tyronne Fernando Stadium hosted a handful in the early 1990s.
- All three are still used for school, club or domestic cricket.
The full list of Test grounds
Sri Lanka's Test grounds, in order of first use, start with the P Sara Oval in 1982, followed by Asgiriya and the SSC, then the Colombo Cricket Club ground in the mid-1980s, the Premadasa and the Tyronne Fernando Stadium in the early 1990s, Galle in 1998 and Pallekele in 2010.
Dambulla and Hambantota have hosted white-ball internationals but not Tests. Of the eight Test grounds, Asgiriya, the CCC and Moratuwa no longer host Tests.
For groundhoppers trying to see every Test ground in the world, all eight are within a few hours of one another.
- →Current: P Sara, SSC, Premadasa, Galle, Pallekele.
- →Former: Asgiriya, CCC, Moratuwa.
- →White-ball only: Dambulla, Hambantota.
Asgiriya, Kandy
Asgiriya, the ground of Trinity College in Kandy, hosted its first Test in 1983, Australia's first in Sri Lanka, and its last in 2007. Steep banks surround the field, and the atmosphere in a full Asgiriya was famous.
The ground was small and hard to reach through Kandy's streets, so Pallekele was built outside the city. Asgiriya remains Trinity's ground and hosts school and domestic matches.
This site's companion page on Asgiriya and Kandy's cricket heritage covers its history in more depth.
Asgiriya also saw some of Muttiah Muralitharan's finest days, as the Kandy-born spinner bowled in front of home crowds on the steep banks. Local fans still speak warmly of the ground's Test years.
- →Tests: 1983 to 2007.
- →Owner: Trinity College.
- →Replaced by: Pallekele.
The Colombo Cricket Club ground
The Colombo Cricket Club ground on Maitland Crescent hosted a few Tests in the mid-1980s, during Sri Lanka's early years as a Test nation. The club is one of the oldest in Sri Lanka, with roots in the nineteenth century.
As the SSC, the P Sara Oval and the new Premadasa became the main Colombo venues, the CCC returned to domestic cricket.
The ground is close to the SSC and the other Cinnamon Gardens clubs, making it easy to include in a Colombo cricket walk.
Those early Tests were part of a busy period when Sri Lanka played host to several touring teams in quick succession and used a number of Colombo grounds. The team was still finding its feet at Test level, and many of the players who would go on to win the 1996 World Cup were starting their careers.
The Tyronne Fernando Stadium, Moratuwa
The Tyronne Fernando Stadium in Moratuwa, about 20 km south of Colombo, hosted a handful of Tests in the early 1990s, including one against Australia in 1992. Its spell as a Test venue was brief.
The ground is now used mainly for domestic and school cricket, and Moratuwa's schools have a strong cricket tradition.
Lankan Stays & Trails can include Moratuwa in a drive down the coast from Colombo to Galle, with a stop at the ground.
- →Tests: a handful in the early 1990s.
- →Including: Australia in 1992.
- →Now: domestic and school cricket.
Visiting the former Test grounds
All three former Test grounds are still in use, so they can often be visited during school or domestic matches, when spectators are usually welcome. On other days, entry is at the discretion of the owners.
Asgiriya fits a Kandy stay, the CCC a Colombo morning and Moratuwa the drive south to Galle.
Ask politely at the gate, and accept a refusal if training or maintenance is under way.
- →Asgiriya: with a Kandy stay.
- →CCC: on a Colombo morning.
- →Moratuwa: on the drive south.
Why visit
The former Test grounds tell the story of Sri Lanka's early Test years, when the team was learning the game at the highest level and grounds were tried and tested. They are quiet places now, but full of memories.
For groundhoppers, they complete the list of Sri Lanka's Test venues, and for cricket lovers, they add depth to a trip.
Seeing them alongside the modern stadiums shows how far Sri Lankan cricket has come.
Frequently asked questions
Which grounds have hosted Test cricket in Sri Lanka?
Eight grounds have hosted Tests in Sri Lanka: the P Sara Oval, Asgiriya, the SSC, the Colombo Cricket Club ground, the Premadasa, the Tyronne Fernando Stadium in Moratuwa, Galle and Pallekele. Five still host Tests; Asgiriya, the CCC and Moratuwa no longer do.
Why did Asgiriya stop hosting Tests?
Asgiriya, Trinity College's ground in central Kandy, was small, steep-sided and hard to reach through the city's narrow streets. Pallekele was built outside Kandy with space for a modern stadium, and Asgiriya's last Test was in 2007. It remains a school ground.
Did Australia play a Test at Asgiriya?
Yes. Australia's first Test in Sri Lanka was at Asgiriya in 1983. Australia also played at the Tyronne Fernando Stadium in Moratuwa in 1992. Both are now former Test venues, still used for school and domestic cricket.
Can I visit the former Test grounds?
All three are still in use, so they can often be visited during school or domestic matches, when spectators are usually welcome. On other days, entry is at the owners' discretion. Ask politely at the gate.
Have Dambulla or Hambantota hosted Tests?
No. Dambulla and Hambantota have hosted one-day and Twenty20 internationals and Lanka Premier League matches, but not Tests. For Test cricket, the current venues are Galle, the SSC, the P Sara Oval, the Premadasa and Pallekele.
Can I see all of Sri Lanka's Test grounds in one trip?
Yes. All eight grounds are within a few hours of one another: five in or near Colombo, Galle two hours south and Asgiriya and Pallekele in and near Kandy. A week with a driver is enough to see them all, with sightseeing along the way.
What was Sri Lanka's first Test ground?
The P Sara Oval in Borella, Colombo, hosted Sri Lanka's first Test, against England, in February 1982. It is still a Test venue, though it hosts matches less often than Galle or the SSC.