Quick answer
For a cricket match in Sri Lanka, bring a wide-brimmed hat, high-factor sunscreen, sunglasses and light long sleeves; water and rehydration salts, if the ground allows bottles; a light rain jacket or poncho; your passport and tickets; some cash in Sri Lankan rupees; a small cushion; and a phone power bank. Glass, alcohol, large bags and some umbrellas are often not allowed, so check each ground's rules.
Key takeaways
- Bag rules vary by ground and series, so check them before each match.
- Glass bottles, outside alcohol and large bags are often not allowed in.
- A passport may be needed to collect or show tickets.
- Cash in Sri Lankan rupees is useful for food stalls and tuk-tuks.
- Rehydration salts, sold in Sri Lankan pharmacies, help over a long hot day.
Sun and heat
The sun at Sri Lankan cricket grounds is strong, and the UV index is very high to extreme from about 10 am to 3 pm. Bring a wide-brimmed hat, high-factor sunscreen, sunglasses and light, loose long-sleeved clothing. A cooling towel soaked in water helps in the afternoon.
Water is essential. Bring a refillable bottle if the ground allows it, or buy water inside, and add rehydration salts, sold in pharmacies across Sri Lanka, to one or two bottles a day. Some grounds require bottle caps to be removed or ban outside bottles, so check before you go.
For Tests, which last about seven hours a day, sun protection matters more than anything else.
- →Wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.
- →High-factor sunscreen, reapplied every two hours.
- →Water and rehydration salts.
Rain gear
In mid-year tours and at Pallekele in most months, showers are likely. A light rain jacket or a poncho is more practical than an umbrella, which may be banned or block other people's view. A dry bag or zip-lock bag keeps phones and tickets dry.
Quick-drying clothes and shoes that cope with wet ground are useful on grass banks and in the walk to and from the ground.
- →Light rain jacket or poncho.
- →Dry bag for phone and tickets.
- →Quick-drying clothes.
Documents, money and phone
Carry your passport, or a clear copy if allowed, because it may be needed to collect or show tickets, and keep tickets or e-tickets ready on your phone. Bring some cash in Sri Lankan rupees for food stalls, drinks and tuk-tuks, because cards are not accepted everywhere at the grounds.
A phone power bank keeps your phone alive for tickets, photos, commentary and booking a ride home. A small torch on your phone helps after a late finish.
Lankan Stays & Trails gives fans a short match-day checklist for each ground, including the latest bag rules where they are known.
- →Passport and tickets.
- →Cash in rupees.
- →Phone power bank.
Comfort for a long day
Seats at many Sri Lankan grounds are hard plastic or concrete, and some areas are grass banks. A small cushion or folding mat makes a long day much more comfortable. Binoculars help in big grounds and on the Galle ramparts.
For day-night games, bring a light layer for the evening and insect repellent for the mosquitoes that come out at dusk. Snacks are useful, but check whether outside food is allowed.
A small first-aid kit is worth carrying over a long series: plasters, painkillers, antihistamines, after-sun lotion and any regular medicines. Pharmacies are common in Galle, Colombo and Kandy, but not always close to the ground, and a headache in the heat of the afternoon is easier to deal with from your own bag.
- →Cushion or folding mat.
- →Binoculars.
- →Insect repellent for evenings.
What not to bring
Items often not allowed into Sri Lankan cricket grounds include glass bottles, outside alcohol, large bags, flagpoles, fireworks, and sometimes umbrellas, selfie sticks or professional cameras with long lenses. Rules vary by ground and series, so check before each match.
Avoid clothing or flags with images of the Buddha, which are deeply disrespectful in Sri Lanka, and cover any Buddha tattoos.
- →No glass or outside alcohol.
- →No large bags or flagpoles.
- →No Buddha images on clothing or flags.
A short checklist
For a Test day: hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, long sleeves, water, rehydration salts, passport, tickets, cash, cushion, power bank and a light rain jacket in the wet months.
For a day-night game, add a light layer and insect repellent, and agree a pickup point with your driver for after the match.
Frequently asked questions
What can you take into a cricket ground in Sri Lanka?
You can usually take a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, a small bag, a cushion, a phone and power bank, and often water, though some grounds ban outside bottles. Glass, outside alcohol, large bags and flagpoles are usually not allowed. Check each ground's rules before the match.
Can you bring water into Sri Lankan cricket grounds?
Rules on water vary by ground and series. Some allow sealed or opened plastic bottles, others ban outside bottles and sell water inside. Check before each match, and bring cash to buy water if needed. Drink steadily through the day, with rehydration salts.
Can you bring alcohol into a cricket match in Sri Lanka?
Outside alcohol is usually not allowed into Sri Lankan cricket grounds, and alcohol sales inside vary by ground and series. Alcohol is not sold anywhere on poya days, the monthly full-moon holidays. Check the rules for each match, and limit alcohol in the heat.
Do you need cash at Sri Lankan cricket grounds?
Cash in Sri Lankan rupees is useful at cricket grounds, because many food stalls, drink sellers and tuk-tuks do not accept cards. Bring enough for food, water and transport home. ATMs are common in towns but may have queues on match days.
Are umbrellas allowed at Sri Lankan cricket grounds?
Some grounds and series ban umbrellas, and where they are allowed, they can block other people's view. A light rain jacket or poncho is more practical for showers, and a wide-brimmed hat is better for sun. Check the ground's rules before bringing one.
What should you wear to a cricket match in Sri Lanka?
Wear light, loose clothing in pale colours, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, with long sleeves for sun protection. Team shirts are welcome. Avoid clothing with images of the Buddha, and cover any Buddha tattoos, which are considered deeply disrespectful in Sri Lanka.
What should you bring to a day-night match?
For a day-night match, bring sun protection and water for the afternoon, and a light layer, insect repellent and a phone power bank for the evening. Agree a pickup point with your driver before the match, because roads near the ground are busy after the last ball.