The Padang (ground) home of the Colombo Malay Cricket Club (CMCC) in Colombo 2, celebrates its 60th anniversary since moving from Rifle Green.
The ceremonial opening of the Padang pavilion took place in Slave Island on September 3, 1960 under the patronage of the then Governor General Sir Oliver Goonethilleke.
The CMCC, formed in 1872, lost their original home at the Rifle Green down Sir Chittampalam Gardiner Mawatha in 1939 to make way for military preparations of World War II.
The oldest cricket club in Sri Lanka has played a vital role in moulding the sport in the country in the early decades of the game when wielding the willow was a passion.
During these periods TA Dole (Sr) and BJH Bahar, members of the CMCC, held the position of Secretary Ceylon Cricket Association and Secretary Board of Control for Cricket in Ceylon. Bahar who trained as a coach from the Gower School of Cricket in London, also served in the national selection panel during the period. He was also instrumental in constructing the first ever indoor practice wickets and coaching school in South Asia which was located in Colombo in 1953.
The old parade ground of the Malay Soldiers the Rifle Green ground in Colombo 2 was a gift by the then Military Command to the Malay cricketers of the Ceylon Rifle Regiment with the disbanding of the regiment.
However, with plans for expansion of the Slave Island Police quarters, the Pavilion too was subsequently taken over in 1956.
The CMCC competes in the Governor’s Cup (formerly Sara Trophy) of the SLC in the CDCA (Colombo District Cricket Association) and the Under-23 tournament. It also fields teams for the hockey in the Colombo Hockey Association tournaments, rugby in the Western Province Rugby Football Union and Sri Lanka Rugby, netball and Sepak Takraw.
The CMCC will be celebrating its 150th year in 2022.