Colombo Turf Club
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 Colombo Racecourse Stadium
Location in central Colombo
Colombo Racecourse Stadium
Colombo Racecourse Stadium (Colombo District)
Colombo Racecourse Stadium
Colombo Racecourse Stadium (Sri Lanka)
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| Location | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
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| Coordinates | 6°55′37.4844″N 79°51′40.4748″E / 6.927079000°N 79.861243000°E |
| Capacity | 40,000 |
| Surface | Desso GrassMaster |
| Opened | 1972 |
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Colombo FC SLRFU FFSL |
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Colombo Racecourse was a harness racing course in Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo, Sri Lanka. During the Second World War, it was used as a temporary airfield In 2012 it was redeveloped as the Colombo Racecourse Sports Complex to become the first International Rugby Union ground in Sri Lanka to host all the national rugby union sides home matches.
In 2014 the ground went through a major renovation, which included installation of floodlights and the conversion of a substantial part of the grandstand into a shopping and dining complex.
Officially opened for horse racing in 1893 after it was moved from the Colpitty Race Course, as one of the best in terms of design, facilities, and size in the East. In 1922 a totalisator was installed becoming the first race course in the East to have one.
The Colombo Turf Club was based here with its own pavilion and club house next to the grand stand.
In late 1941 World War II began in the East. After the fall of Singapore the Royal Navy's East Indies Station was moved to Colombo and then to Trincomalee. Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Ceylon with Air Vice Marshal John D'Albiac as air officer commanding, No. 222 Group RAF which was based in Ceylon. The order was given to construct an airfield at the Colombo Racecourse. D S Senanayake, Minister of Agriculture and Lands (later the 1st Prime Minister of Ceylon) was given the task of its construction. Consisting only of a single runway, station headquarters and the officers mess were set up in the bungalows in Cinnamon Gardens and was serviced by a newly established military hospital in the premises of Royal College Colombo.
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Wikipedia