Quick answer
The best places to visit near the R Premadasa Stadium in Maligawatte, Colombo, are the Pettah bazaars and the Jami Ul-Alfar (Red) Mosque, about 10 minutes away; the Colombo Fort district and the Dutch Hospital, about 15 minutes; Galle Face Green and the seafront, about 15 to 20 minutes; and Gangaramaya Temple and Beira Lake, about 20 minutes. All suit a morning or early afternoon before a day-night game.
Key takeaways
- The R Premadasa Stadium, also called Khettarama, is Sri Lanka's largest cricket ground and hosts most day-night internationals in Colombo.
- Pettah's bazaars and the Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque are about 10 minutes from the ground by tuk-tuk.
- The Dutch Hospital in Colombo Fort is one of the oldest buildings in the city, dating to the 17th century.
- Galle Face Green is a 500-metre seafront promenade, busiest at sunset.
- Day-night internationals in Colombo usually start around 2.30 pm, leaving the morning free.
Where the Premadasa stadium is
The R Premadasa Stadium stands in Maligawatte, a busy residential district in the north of Colombo, about 3 to 4 km from the Fort and Pettah. Locally it is also called Khettarama, after the temple next to it. It is Sri Lanka's largest cricket ground and the usual home of day-night internationals and big white-ball matches.
Most visiting fans stay further south, in Colombo Fort, Kollupitiya or along the Galle Road, and travel up by tuk-tuk or taxi. On match days, traffic around the ground builds from early afternoon, so allow 30 to 45 minutes from the southern hotels.
Fixtures change each series, so check the venue and start time with Sri Lanka Cricket before planning the day.
- →Distance to Pettah: about 10 minutes by tuk-tuk.
- →Distance to Galle Face: about 15 to 20 minutes.
- →Usual day-night start: about 2.30 pm local time.
Pettah, the Red Mosque and the bazaars
Pettah, Colombo's old market district, is the closest sight to the R Premadasa Stadium and the most intense. Each street specialises in something: fabric, spices, electronics, hardware, flowers, gold. The noise, colour and handcarts make it one of the great city walks in South Asia.
The Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, known as the Red Mosque for its red and white striped brickwork, was built in 1909 and is Pettah's landmark. Nearby, the Dutch Period Museum occupies a 17th-century Dutch house, and the Old Town Hall has a small display of colonial-era objects.
Pettah is at its busiest from about 9 am, so an early start before a day-night game works well.
- →Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque: visitors welcome outside prayer times, modest dress.
- →Pettah market streets: go with a guide or a clear route.
- →Dutch Period Museum: a 17th-century Dutch house.
Colombo Fort and the Dutch Hospital
Colombo Fort, the city's colonial core, is about 15 minutes from the R Premadasa Stadium. The Dutch Hospital, one of the oldest buildings in Colombo, is now a courtyard of restaurants and shops, and is a good place for lunch before heading to the cricket.
The surrounding streets have the Old Parliament building, the Grand Oriental Hotel, the clock tower lighthouse and the restored colonial offices along York Street and Chatham Street. The Colombo Fort railway station, an Edwardian building, is where trains leave for Kandy and Galle.
- →Dutch Hospital: lunch in a 17th-century courtyard.
- →Old Parliament and the clock tower: a short walk.
- →Fort station: useful for the Galle and Kandy legs.
Galle Face Green and the seafront
Galle Face Green, a 500-metre strip of lawn along the sea, is Colombo's favourite open space. It is about 15 to 20 minutes from the R Premadasa Stadium, and on the morning of a day-night game it is quiet, with joggers, kite flyers and the sea breeze.
In the late afternoon, Galle Face fills with families, food stalls and informal cricket games, so after a day game or on a rest day it is the place for sunset and street food. The isso vadai, crisp lentil cakes topped with prawns, are the classic snack.
The Galle Face Hotel, at the southern end of the green, is one of the oldest hotels in Asia and a good place for a drink with a view of the sea.
- →Galle Face Green: best at sunset.
- →Isso vadai: the green's prawn and lentil snack.
- →Galle Face Hotel: a sundowner on the lawn.
Gangaramaya, Beira Lake and the museums
Gangaramaya Temple, about 20 minutes from the R Premadasa Stadium, is a busy Buddhist temple with a museum of gifts from devotees, from vintage cars to ivory. Next to it, Beira Lake has the small Seema Malaka temple, designed by Geoffrey Bawa, on a platform in the water.
Further south, Viharamahadevi Park and the Colombo National Museum, in a white colonial building, are an easy morning before an afternoon start. The museum's collection covers the island's kings, art and archaeology and takes about two hours.
Lankan Stays & Trails builds Colombo match days with a guided morning in Pettah or the Fort, lunch, and a driver who knows the drop-off points at the ground.
- →Gangaramaya: about an hour, modest dress.
- →Seema Malaka: a Geoffrey Bawa temple on Beira Lake.
- →Colombo National Museum: about two hours.
A match day in Colombo
A typical day-night match day in Colombo starts with Pettah or the Fort in the morning, lunch in the Dutch Hospital or a Galle Road cafe, a rest in the hotel through the hottest hours, and a tuk-tuk to the R Premadasa Stadium by about 1.30 pm.
After the game, the roads near the ground stay busy for an hour or more, so agree a pickup point with your driver or walk to a quieter road before booking a ride. Late-night kottu stalls are the classic post-match meal.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do near the Premadasa stadium?
Near the R Premadasa Stadium you can explore the Pettah bazaars and the Red Mosque, about 10 minutes away, walk round Colombo Fort and the Dutch Hospital, see Galle Face Green and the seafront, and visit Gangaramaya Temple and Beira Lake, all within about 20 minutes by tuk-tuk.
Where is the R Premadasa Stadium?
The R Premadasa Stadium is in Maligawatte, in the north of Colombo, roughly 3 to 4 km from Colombo Fort and Pettah. It is also called Khettarama, after the neighbouring temple. Most visitors reach it by tuk-tuk or taxi from hotels in the Fort, Kollupitiya or along the Galle Road.
How long does it take to get to Premadasa stadium?
From Colombo Fort, the R Premadasa Stadium is about 15 minutes by road in normal traffic. From hotels in Kollupitiya or further south on the Galle Road, allow 30 to 45 minutes on match days, because traffic builds around the ground from early afternoon.
What time do day-night games start in Colombo?
Day-night internationals in Colombo usually start around 2.30 pm local time and finish between about 10 and 11 pm. T20 internationals usually start in the evening. Start times change by series and broadcaster, so check the official schedule for each match before planning the day.
Is Pettah safe to visit before a cricket match?
Pettah is generally safe by day, but it is crowded and chaotic, so keep valuables close, watch for handcarts and traffic, and go with a guide or a clear route. Mornings, from about 9 am, are the best time, before the heat builds and before you head to the ground.
What should you eat in Colombo on a match day?
Try isso vadai, the prawn-topped lentil cakes sold on Galle Face Green, a rice and curry lunch, short eats such as fish rolls and patties from a bakery, and kottu, chopped roti fried with vegetables and meat, which is the classic late-night meal after a day-night game.
Can you walk to the Premadasa stadium?
Walking is possible from Maligawatte and nearby streets, but most visitors are too far away to walk, and the main roads near the ground are busy and hot. A tuk-tuk or taxi to a drop-off point near the ground is easier, then a short walk to the gate.