Night time is the right time

Colombo is known as the entertainment and arts hub of Sri Lanka. You'll feel the buzz of the island here. The capital is known for its five-star hotels and we like to boast about its nightlife and top restaurants.

I was born in the city and it is my home. I really enjoyed growing up here, and was lucky to study at St Joseph's College, one of the leading schools in Sri Lanka. I spent my weekends and spare time playing soft-ball cricket - running around in the back streets with a bat and ball, going to friends' houses where we would make up rules for street cricket games and then play them for hours.

The Premadasa feels like our home ground, in terms of one-day cricket certainly, as we have a healthy win ratio there recently. I like to think of it as our fortress. We play so much there that we know what to expect and can prepare ourselves accordingly. The square was re-laid just a while ago, so the wickets are now more sporting and less dusty, with a little more in it for seamers, in terms of bounce and carry. The stands are steep and the stadium itself is more enclosed, so the atmosphere is always brilliant. But, as we saw in the 2011 World Cup at the new grounds in Hambantota and Kandy, whichever part of Sri Lanka we play in, the supporters follow us. The passion of the fans throughout the island is amazing.

Eating out
Colombo is great for a meal out. I am a long-time regular at the London Grill in the Cinnamon Grand hotel, because the steaks there are awesome. Another good spot to eat out would be the Gallery Café for dinner. Among bars, I like to hang out and shot some pool at the Cheers Pub, also in the Cinnamon Grand.

The recently converted Old Dutch Hospital next to the Colombo Fort is now a nice spot for food and drinks in the evening. I recently tried out Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara's new seafood restaurant called the Ministry of Crab. I was very impressed! It is a really smart set-up right in the heart of the city.

Shopping
When my friends come over to stay in Colombo, they go shopping at Paradise Road and Odel. Barefoot is good for gifts, with a little café that hosts quizzes and plays live jazz.

Shop at Suriya and Gandhara for antiques for your home. There are local art fairs at Green Path that you could check out. For a more raw and hectic Sri Lankan market atmosphere, go to Pettah Market to pick up bits and pieces. Even if you don't want to shop, I'd recommend a visit there, just for the experience.