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Adding local short description: "Sports venue in Colombo, Sri Lanka", overriding Wikidata description "sports venue in Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo, Sri Lanka" (Shortdesc helper) |
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| image = Colombo Racecourse grandstand - 03.jpg
| location = [[Colombo]], [[Sri Lanka]]
| pushpin_map = Sri Lanka Colombo Central#Sri Lanka Colombo District#Sri Lanka
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'''Colombo Racecourse''' was a [[harness racing]] course in the [[Cinnamon Gardens]]
[[File:Bristol Blenheim - Colombo - Royal Air Force Operations in the Far East, 1941-1945. CI105.jpg|thumb|An [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] bomber takes off from Colombo's racecourse<!--note, the runway was the racecourse--> in Ceylon during the war.]]▼
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.
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===Airstrip===
▲[[File:Bristol Blenheim - Colombo - Royal Air Force Operations in the Far East, 1941-1945. CI105.jpg|thumb|left|An [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] bomber takes off from Colombo's racecourse<!--note, the runway was the racecourse--> in Ceylon during the war.]]
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 [[General Officer Commanding, Ceylon|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. [[Don Stephen Senanayake|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|Royal College Colombo]].
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===Colombo Racecourse Sports Complex===
[[File:Colombo Racecourse.jpg|left|thumb|Colombo Racecourse]]▼
In 2011 the Urban Development Authority commenced the renovation of the Grand stand and the Colombo Turf Club building. The structures were renovated by the [[Engineer Services Regiment|6th Engineer Services Regiment]] and Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau. The remaining grounds were redeveloped into Sri Lanka's first international grade Rugby Union grounds.
▲File:Colombo Racecourse.jpg|Colombo Racecourse
==References==
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