Quick answer
The best places to visit near the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Cinnamon Gardens are the Colombo National Museum, Viharamahadevi Park and the Town Hall, all within about 10 minutes, and Independence Square and Arcade, about 10 to 15 minutes. Near the P Sara Oval in Borella, there are the Borella markets, the Kanatte cemetery and Gangaramaya Temple and Beira Lake, about 15 minutes away. Galle Face Green is about 15 to 20 minutes from both.
Key takeaways
- The Sinhalese Sports Club stands on Maitland Place in Cinnamon Gardens (Colombo 7) and has hosted many Australian Tests.
- The P Sara Oval in Borella hosted Sri Lanka's first Test match, against England, in 1982.
- The Colombo National Museum, opened in 1877, is about 10 minutes from the SSC.
- Independence Square marks the end of British rule in 1948.
- Test days in Colombo usually start around 10 am, so museum visits suit rest days and early finishes.
Colombo's two old Test grounds
The Sinhalese Sports Club, known simply as the SSC, is the home of Sri Lankan Test cricket in Colombo. The ground stands on Maitland Place in Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo 7, the leafy district of embassies, parks and old bungalows, and it has hosted Tests against Australia on several tours, including 2004, 2011 and 2016.
The P Sara Oval, the ground of the Tamil Union club in Borella, is smaller and older in feel. It hosted Sri Lanka's first Test, against England in 1982, and has a club atmosphere with a heritage pavilion.
Both grounds are central, so a Colombo Test leaves mornings, evenings and rest days for the city. Check the schedule for which ground is in use, because venues change each tour.
- →SSC: Maitland Place, Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo 7.
- →P Sara Oval: Borella, about 10 minutes east of the SSC.
- →Both grounds: central, with easy tuk-tuk access.
The National Museum and Viharamahadevi Park
The Colombo National Museum is the best sight near the SSC, about 10 minutes away by tuk-tuk. Housed in a white colonial building opened in 1877, it covers Sri Lanka's kingdoms, Buddhist and Hindu art, and the regalia of the last king of Kandy. Allow about two hours.
Viharamahadevi Park, opposite the museum, is Colombo's largest park, with a large seated Buddha, fountains and shady paths. The white-domed Town Hall stands on its northern edge. On weekend evenings the park fills with families.
The Natural History Museum is in the same compound as the National Museum, and the Lionel Wendt art centre and gallery is a short walk away.
- →National Museum: about two hours, closed on some public holidays.
- →Viharamahadevi Park: a cool walk under the trees.
- →Town Hall: a 1920s domed building.
Independence Square and Arcade
Independence Square, about 10 to 15 minutes from the SSC, marks Sri Lanka's independence from Britain in 1948. The Independence Memorial Hall, built in a Kandyan style with carved stone lions, stands in a large green space popular with joggers at dawn and dusk.
Next to it, Independence Arcade is a restored colonial building with cafes, restaurants and shops, and a good place for an evening meal after a day at the cricket. The surrounding avenues of Cinnamon Gardens are pleasant for an early walk.
- →Independence Memorial Hall: carved Kandyan-style pillars.
- →Independence Arcade: dinner in a restored colonial building.
- →Dawn walk: the square is busiest with joggers at about 6 am.
Borella, Beira Lake and Gangaramaya
Borella, around the P Sara Oval, is a busy local district rather than a tourist one. Its markets and street food give a sense of everyday Colombo, and the large General Cemetery at Kanatte, laid out in 1866, has colonial-era graves and a quiet, shaded avenue.
About 15 minutes from both grounds, Gangaramaya Temple and Beira Lake are the best-known sights in the centre. Gangaramaya's museum of donated objects is eclectic, and the Seema Malaka, designed by Geoffrey Bawa, stands on a platform in the lake.
Lankan Stays & Trails builds Colombo Test days around the grounds, with a museum or temple in the morning of a rest day and dinner near the hotel after stumps.
- →Gangaramaya: modest dress, about an hour.
- →Seema Malaka: a short walk across the lake.
- →Kanatte cemetery: a quiet hour of colonial history.
Galle Face and the Galle Road
Galle Face Green, the city's seafront promenade, is about 15 to 20 minutes from the SSC and the P Sara Oval. After a day's play, the green at sunset, with food stalls and kites, is the most relaxed place in Colombo.
The Galle Road runs south from there through Kollupitiya and Bambalapitiya, with shops, cafes and many of the hotels where visiting fans stay. Mount Lavinia's beach, about 30 to 40 minutes south, is the closest swim.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do near the SSC in Colombo?
Near the Sinhalese Sports Club you can visit the Colombo National Museum, walk in Viharamahadevi Park, see the Town Hall, visit Independence Square and Arcade, and reach Gangaramaya Temple, Beira Lake and Galle Face Green within about 15 to 20 minutes by tuk-tuk.
Where is the SSC cricket ground?
The Sinhalese Sports Club ground stands on Maitland Place in Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo 7, a central, leafy district of parks, embassies and old bungalows. It is about 10 minutes from the National Museum and about 15 to 20 minutes from Galle Face Green and Colombo Fort.
Where is the P Sara Oval?
The P Sara Oval is in Borella, Colombo, about 10 minutes east of the Sinhalese Sports Club by road. It is the home ground of the Tamil Union club and hosted Sri Lanka's first Test match, against England, in 1982. It has a heritage pavilion and a club atmosphere.
Is the Colombo National Museum worth visiting?
The Colombo National Museum is worth about two hours, especially on a rest day. It covers Sri Lanka's kingdoms, Buddhist and Hindu art and the regalia of the last king of Kandy, in a colonial building opened in 1877. Check opening days, because it closes on some public holidays.
Where should fans stay for a Test at the SSC?
Most fans stay along the Galle Road in Kollupitiya or Bambalapitiya, in Colombo Fort, or in Cinnamon Gardens itself, all within about 10 to 20 minutes of the ground. Hotels near the seafront make it easy to reach Galle Face Green after stumps.
What can you do in Colombo after a day of Test cricket?
After stumps, walk to Galle Face Green for the sunset and street food, eat in Independence Arcade or the Dutch Hospital, or visit Gangaramaya Temple, which is busy and lit in the evening. Colombo's bars and restaurants along the Galle Road are open late.
How do you get between the SSC and the P Sara Oval?
The SSC and the P Sara Oval are roughly 3 km apart, about 10 minutes by tuk-tuk or taxi outside rush hour. Ride-hailing apps work across Colombo and are an easy way to agree a fare in advance. Allow longer in the morning and evening traffic.