The fort that stands proudly above Galle has become an icon for the South of Sri Lanka, while also serving as a stark reminder of the country’s rich colonial past. For anyone touring the south, the fort serves as an excellent landmark and central location which connects a number of interesting destinations and attractions to each other. Perhaps the most famous of these is the Galle Fort Cricket Ground – a place where you can enjoy a number of great international and domestic fixtures.
To say that Sri Lankans are infatuated with cricket would be an understatement. Ever since the tail-end of the 20th century, the island nation has become obsessed with the sport, capping off with an impressive World Championship victory in 1996. As such, watching a match surrounded by raucous fans is one of the most exhilarating and exciting things you can do here in Sri Lanka – and few places are better for this than the Galle Stadium.
The Galle Fort Cricket Ground was initially built all the way back in 1876. During these early years, the grounds were mainly used as a racecourse. The first real cricket games were played here in the 1920s and it was officially declared as a cricket stadium in 1927. The stadium would go onto host its first first-class domestic match in 1984 while the very first international match held here was a test encounter between New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
The sporting action on display at the Galle Fort Cricket Ground is often amplified by the sheer beauty and scenery that surrounds the stadium. After all, the venue itself is considered to be one of the most picturesque places to watch cricket anywhere in the world!