Colombo Sports is highlighted by the numerous sports events in different disciplines that are held throughout the year. Sports in Colombo centers around cricket, a game in which Sri Lanka has progressed dramatically. Other sports in which Colombo features prominently are football, badminton, basketball, athletics, and golf. Colombo being a city of ancient origin is the seat of many traditional sports like Angampora (human combat), Ankeliya (hook tugging), Mallava Pora (wrestling), and Porapol Gahima (coconut fighting).
Cricket in Colombo
Colombo cricket is represented by the Colombo Cricket Club, and R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium. The Colombo Cricket Club Ground having a capacity of 6000 hosted its first match in 1927, and its maiden international game in 1934 hosting a MCC side under Douglas Jardine. The Colombo Cricket Club also has a gallery containing memorabilia of Sir Donald Bradman and other illustrious cricketers. The first test match in the Colombo Cricket Ground was played in March 1984 between Sri Lanka and New Zealand..
R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium with a seating capacity of 35,000 was built in 1986. The first cricket test match was played between Sri Lanka and Australia in September 1992, while the first ODI (one day international) match was played in March 1986 between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
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The venue is best remembered as the venue for holding the record for most runs scored by a side in a Test match innings. Sri Lanka in a test match during the 1997-98 India - Sri Lanka series scored 952 for 6 wickets declared aided by 340 runs of Sanath Jayasuriya, and 225 runs by Roshan Mahanama. Their partnership of 576 runs is the highest score for the 2nd wicket in the history of test cricket.
Colombo Traditional Sports
Colombo being an historical city is famous for certain ethnic sporting events. These events are enjoyed by all and are participated enthusiastically by the local people. These games are:
- Angampora (human combat) - This is a combination of two terms: 'anga' meaning body, and 'pora' meaning combat. This a traditional martial art form fought with or without weapons. It is also a part of military training in Sri Lanka.
- Ankeliya (hook tugging) - This is religious game played between two parties to satisfy goddess Pattini for deliverance from an epidemic.
- Mallava Pora - This is a form of free style of wrestling having its origin in India but popularized in Sri Lanka
- Porapol Gahima - .This sport involves throwing of coconuts between two teams.
Colombo sports are immensely enjoyable to tourists as they are unique and fun-filled.
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