Colombo Club

About

Founded in 1871, the Colombo Club is one of Sri Lanka’s oldest private members’ clubs, historically a gentlemen’s club, located within the Taj Samudra Hotel on Galle Face Centre Road, Colombo 03. The club maintains a membership in the low hundreds, offers reciprocal access with a network of international clubs, and serves as a venue for business and social gatherings with a long institutional history. More information can be found on the club's official website here.

Dining Experience

The club’s dining room is operated with food service provided by the Taj Samudra hotel and offers multi-course Western, Indian, Chinese, and Sri Lankan menus. The restaurant operates during club hours from 8:00 am to midnight, with last food orders around 10:30 pm. Members may charge bills to their club account and receive member discounts. The dining room capacity is approximately 40, although some sources note a 60-seat figure. For more details, visit the dining section on the club's website here.

Events Calendar

The club runs a programmed events calendar for members, which includes bi-monthly Members’ Luncheons with guest speakers, specialist tasting evenings (wine/whisky), live entertainment, and special food nights. The club publishes a members’ newsletter and posts News & Events updates with scheduled speaker luncheons and other member-focused events. Further information can be accessed on the club's website here.

Private Event Hosting

Members may reserve four meeting rooms, equipped with AV facilities, for business presentations or private dining, accommodating roughly 8 to 16 people. The club can provide customized medium-sized event catering via Taj Samudra. The premises can also host social gatherings or private parties, with the newsletter citing a capacity of up to 30 guests. Meeting-room reservations incur a minimum charge of Rs. 1,500, which can be offset against food and beverage orders. More details are available on the club's website here.

Membership Categories

There are two main categories of membership: Individual and Corporate. Individual membership is available to Sri Lanka residents over 25, requiring a Proposer (a General Committee member) and a Seconder, and may involve an interview and committee approval. Fees include an Initiation Fee of Rs. 500,000 plus applicable tax, an Annual Subscription of Rs. 60,000, and an annual Minimum Spend of Rs. 40,000 plus tax. Corporate membership allows companies to apply and nominate up to four nominees, with a Corporate initiation fee of Rs. 800,000 for a 5-year period, an Annual Subscription of Rs. 45,000 per nominee, and a Minimum Spend of Rs. 40,000 per nominee plus tax. More information can be found on the club's website here.

Seasonal Events

The club publishes seasonal and periodic programming in its members’ newsletter, scheduling events such as Members’ Luncheons, speaker series, wine promotions, themed food nights, and musical evenings. Examples of events are scheduled across April to November 2022. For more details, refer to the newsletter here.

Club Amenities

On-site amenities include a bar with private locker options, a lounge with piano and billiards, a restaurant, four AV-equipped meeting rooms, a business centre, free Wi-Fi, a bottle-bank facility (limit 5 bottles), and virtual meeting (Zoom/Microsoft) and multimedia equipment. Members also have access privileges and discounts at Taj Samudra outlets and reciprocal clubs internationally. More information is available on the club's website here.

Dress Code

The club enforces a smart/business attire policy that prohibits slippers, sandals (with limited allowance for national dress), collarless T-shirts, shorts, or swimwear. Specific smart-casual rules are detailed in the club’s Code of Conduct, which can be reviewed here.

House Rules

A published Code of Conduct requires decorum and prohibits smoking inside the premises, with a designated garden area for smokers. Members must carry their membership cards, and there are restrictions on children (children aged 12 and over are allowed in meeting rooms and the restaurant when accompanied; those under 12 are not permitted). There is a limit on bottle-bank use, and guests must be accompanied by sponsoring members who are liable for bills. Rules on payment of subscriptions and late dues are also in place, governed by the constitution and bye-laws. For more details, the Code of Conduct can be found here.

Visiting Policy

Reciprocal access is available with a list of international clubs, and members should obtain an introduction letter prior to visiting. Guests and visitors must follow club rules and be accompanied by the sponsoring member, with spouse cards available. Members may reserve facilities for visitors and are responsible for their guests’ bills. More information can be found on the club's website here.