Recreational Activities in Colombo & Golf in Sri Lanka

Golf - The Royal Colombo Golf Club, on Middle Farm Road, Colombo 8, is an 18- hole Golf course, situated in a picturesque fringe of the city. The club accepts temporary members, and the caddies are of international class. Pro Shop is also available.

Tennis - The major hotels such as the Oberoi, Inter-continental, Ramada, Taj Samudra and Hilton have facilities for tennis. If you are a non-resident, advance bookings are advaiced. Several private clubs welcome temporary members and guests to their courts. Among these are the Orieant club; Rajakeeya Mawatha, near Royal collage, Sri Lanka Tennis Association 45, Sri Marcus Frenando mawatha, Colombo 7,Women's International club, 16, Guildfort crescent, Colombo 7. and Nondescripts cricket club, Maitland Place, Colombo 7.

Squash - The Oberoi, Inter-continental, Taj Samudra and Ramada hotels have facilities for squash. Temporary membership could also be sought at the Gymkhana club and at the otter Aquatic club, 380, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, (Bullers Road), Colombo 7.

Swimming - Within the city, the "Kinross Beach" at Wellawatte is a very popular place for good sea bathing and swimming. A little south of the city is Mount Lavinia Beach - 12km from the Fort - which is the most popular place for the sun and sea. The kinross Swimming & life saving club, station Road, Wellawatta, offers temporary membership to visitors Among private clubs which allow temporary members and guests to use their pools are the otter Aquatic club,380, bauddhaloka mawata, Colombo 7 .Sinhalese sports club, Maitland place, Colombo 7 and the Colombo swimming club, "strom lodge", Galle Road, Colombo 3 . Arrangement could also be made to use the swimming pools of the leading hotels in the city.

Health Clubs - All of the five-star hotels in Colombo have sports centres and health clubs on their premises which offer a wide range of physical fitness equipment’s and activities, only a few - the Hilton, Ramada and Taj - have temporary memberships for short-term visitors

Aerobics Classes - Fast becoming one of the most popular ways of staying fit, Some of the five star hotels having a regular program of aerobics classes conducted by trained instructors.

Rowing and Boating - The Colombo Rowing club, which has a fine club house by Beira Lake at 51/1 Chittampalam Gardiner mawata, Colombo 2 (entrance opposite lake house bookshop).The Royal Colombo yatch club, located at Colombo harbor, has dinghy racing.The Ceylon Motor Yatch club, 14 miles south of Colombo on Bolgoda Lake, Moratuwa too has dingy racing.

Zoo and Aquarium - The Zoological Gardens and Aquarium situated at Anagarika Dharmapala Mawata, Dehiwala, just outside the city limits on the south, are well worth a visit. The zoo has a very large collection of species from Sri Lanka and abroad. A very popular attraction is the circus by performing elephants held at 5.15 p.m. every day The zoo is open from 9 a.m. daily.

Parks - The Vihara Maha Devi Park - at Colombo 7, opposite the town Hall, is a very pleasant place for a quiet walk or to be in the shade of large fiowering trees. It is a well-tended large park . there are several small parks scattered throughout the city, many of which feature playgrounds.