Sri Lanka Sports & Outdoors Tips by mafi_moya Top 5 Page for this destination

The British Grand National

Gambling is a popular pastime with every red-blooded Sri Lankan male. If you're rich you go the casino, if you're not then don't bother because they won't let you through the door. Instead you go the bookmakers/betting shops found dotted across town. The bookies here are much like the bookies in the UK - a small shop, people behind the counter who take your money, and reports on all the latest horse races. In fact they're almost exactly like those in the UK...

Horse racing is the most popular sport to bet on but races in Sri Lanka are very rare (in fact someone told me they were illegal, although I'm not certain as there is at least one course in Nuwara Eliya). So instead working class Sri Lankan men who can't speak a word of English bet all their money on races taking place in Britain - "I'll have 100 rupees on the 3.15 at Aintree!"

As a Brit, this can lead to rather strange encounters with locals as their entire knowledge of the UK comes from racing. One friend of mine had never heard of big cities like Manchester or Birmingham - he thought the biggest and most important places in Britain were Ascot, York and Chepstow! Another guy spoke no English but could effortlessly reel off the names of every Grand National winner since 1960, the year he was born!

Theme: Sports Watching

Cricket crazy

I can count on one hand the number of people I've met in Sri Lanka who don't like cricket. Male or female, rich or poor, young or old, Tamil or Sinhalese - cricket transcends any boundaries. It's easy to know when there's an international game on - the traffic is even more suicidal than normal as people rush to a TV, and huge crowds of men gather in the street outside the Abans electronics shops to watch the TV in the window. The big match dominates all talk in the office for at least a week in advance - even among the women.

Cricket is more than a sport here. The fact that star bowler Muttiah 'Murali' Muralitharan is a Tamil has done more for race relations than any politician could ever do. When Australia call him a cheat (as they regularly do!) the whole country unites behind him. Elections to the national cricket board generate nearly as much media coverage (and even more conversation and corruption) than the political elections. Ask a tuk tuk driver about 'the match' (doesn't really matter which one!) and you won't be able to shut him up.

I once made the mistake of getting a haircut as the match was starting. The barber turned my chair away from the mirror and faced the TV instead. Every time there was a boundary or a wicket, or anything close to either, he'd jump up and down - usually pulling clumps of my hair out and stabbing me with the scissors at the same time.

International matches are now played in Colombo, Kandy, Galle and Dambulla. Tickets are extremely cheap and even if you don't like cricket then the atmosphere at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo when it's packed full is worth the entrance fee alone. The only time cricket is not popular here is when Sri Lanka are losing. Sri Lankans are quite bad losers and if the team isn't performing then they'd rather not watch.

Theme: Other

Swimming

Considering Sri Lanka is a tiny island and much of the country is coastal, it's surprising that many Sri Lankans can't swim very well. However, those that can are extremely good and tend to spend half their life in the water. If you want to swim then the beaches are by far the best place and are generally safe and clean. There are a few swimming clubs in Colombo and other places but are mostly private affairs for members only.

Theme: Other