De Zoysa Stadium

De Zoysa Stadium sits opposite the MJF Centre on Negombo Road. A pavilion rose from the earth in 1952, paid for by the philanthropist whose name now adorns the scoreboard. Tyronne Fernando , the local MP and Deputy Foreign Minister, secured public funds to raise the stands to 16,000. He gave the stadium his name in 1979, but the title was quietly reversed in June 1997 when the municipal council restored the original title to honour the land donor.

Cricket is played on natural grass here, a surface that has witnessed Sri Lanka’s slow ascent in the international arena. The first Test match was played here in September 1992 against Australia. The last men’s ODI was played on August 14, 1993, against India, marking the end of an era for international cricket at this venue.

Beyond the professionals, the stadium serves as the battleground for the annual "Battle of the Golds" school cricket match between Prince of Wales' College and St. Sebastian's College.