Viharamahadevi Park, Urban park in Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Viharamahadevi Park is a large green space in Cinnamon Gardens featuring flowering trees, gardens, an artificial lake, and winding walking paths throughout. The grounds include a children's playground, an open-air theater, sports areas, and restroom facilities for visitors.
Viharamahadevi Park was laid out by the British colonial administration as Victoria Park, named after Queen Victoria, and is Colombo's oldest and largest park at 45 acres. During World War II the British Army occupied it, with the Australian 17th Brigade based there; it was restored and reopened to the public in 1951. On 18 July 1958 it was renamed after Queen Viharamahadevi, mother of King Dutugamunu.
The park's name honours Queen Viharamahadevi, mother of King Dutugamunu, replacing the colonial name Victoria Park on 18 July 1958. A large Buddha statue now stands where a statue of Queen Victoria once did. At the western end are the Cenotaph War Memorial and the Colombo Public Library.
Entry is free and the park welcomes visitors throughout the day, though early mornings and late afternoons tend to feel more relaxed and less crowded. The pathways are flat and easy to walk, making it suitable for families and those looking for a leisurely stroll.
Viharamahadevi Park once held a first-class cricket ground, used between 1927 and 1995; Ceylon faced a touring English side there in 1927 and an Australian team in 1935. The pitch has since given way to lawns and the artificial lake where Muscovy ducks now swim.
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