The promenade was initially laid out in 1859 by the British Governor of Ceylon, Sir Henry Ward, and was known as the Colpitty Race Course, used for horse racing and as a golf course, although the original Galle Face Green extended over a much larger area. The Green is currently a 5 hectare ribbon strip of land between Galle Road and The Indian Ocean which is now the largest open space in Colombo. This is a popular destination for children, vendors, teenagers, and all those who want to indulge in their favorite pastimes next to the sea.