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Galle Face Green

The Promenade by the Ocean

Galle Face Green is a ribbon of land that stretches for half a kilometre along the coast of the Indian Ocean in central Colombo, measuring up to an area of five hectares. It was originally developed by the Dutch as a strategic line of cannon fire against the invading Portuguese, and stretched over a much larger area than what it is today. In 1859, Sir Henry George Ward (then Governor of British Ceylon) gave instructions for a promenade to be constructed alongside the seashore, to allow for women and children to walk through as they wished.

From Sporting Venue to Street Food Haven

Over the years, since the initial creation of this urban park, Galle Face Green has seen a variety of sports played on its grounds, including horse racing, golf, cricket, polo, football, tennis and rugby. Today, enclosed between the Indian Ocean on its western coast and Galle Road to its east, the area is the largest open space in Colombo. It is known to locals and visitors for hosting an array of street-food vendors that sell fresh cooked crabs and prawns, as well as spiced slices of mango. Galle Face Green is also known for its striking sunset views, featuring a horizon dotted with the colourful kites of locals. In December 2016, the area was also host to the world’s tallest artificial Christmas tree. Galle Face Green is currently maintained by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) of Sri Lanka.

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Useful Tips

  • Enjoy local street food (kottu, hoppers, isso wade) at the famous ‘Nanas’.
  • A popular pastime here is kite flying.
  • Walking distance to Colombo Port City, Mount Lavinia Hotel, Taj Samudra, and many others.
Beira Lake

Beira Lake

Beira Lake is a well-known landmark within Colombo, situated in the heart of the capital and providing much-needed respite to the city’s residents from the concrete jungle that has rapidly developed around them
Gangaramaya Temple

Gangaramaya Temple

In the heart of Colombo, situated near the shore of Beira Lake, the Gangaramaya Temple is one of the oldest and most culturally significant temples of the city.

Khan Clock Tower

Khan Clock Tower

The Khan Clock Tower is one of three ancient clock towers in Colombo. The inscription at the base of the four-storey tower in Pettah tells a story of two sons who, years after the passing of their father, built a monument in his memory, in the place that he loved.