fbpx
Wikipedia

Colombo

Colombo (/kəˈlʌmb/ kə-LUM-boh;[2] Sinhala: කොළඹ, romanized: Koḷam̆ba, IPA: [ˈkoləᵐbə]; Tamil: கொழும்பு, romanized: Koḻumpu, IPA: [koɻumbɯ]) is the executive and judicial capital[3] and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. According to the Brookings Institution, Colombo metropolitan area has a population of 5.6 million,[4][5][6][7] and 752,993[1] in the Municipality. It is the financial centre of the island and a tourist destination.[8] It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to the Greater Colombo area which includes Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, the legislative capital of Sri Lanka, and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. Colombo is often referred to as the capital since Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is itself within the urban/suburban area of Colombo. It is also the administrative capital of the Western Province and the district capital of Colombo District. Colombo is a busy and vibrant city with a mixture of modern life, colonial buildings and monuments.[9]

Colombo
කොළඹ
கொழும்பு
From top; left to right: The Old Parliament Building, Bank of Ceylon building and WTC twin towers in the Colombo financial district of Fort, Buddha statues at Seema Malaka, Independence Memorial Hall, The Murugan Hindu temple in Slave Island, the Grand Oriental Hotel in Fort, Nelum Pokuna, Skyline over Galle Face Green (middle), with Shangri-La Hotel and One Galle Face (left), and Indian Ocean (right)
Colombo
Colombo
Colombo
Coordinates: 6°56′04″N 79°50′34″E / 6.93444°N 79.84278°E / 6.93444; 79.84278Coordinates: 6°56′04″N 79°50′34″E / 6.93444°N 79.84278°E / 6.93444; 79.84278
CountrySri Lanka
ProvinceWestern Province
DistrictColombo District
Government
 • Municipal CouncilColombo Municipal Council
 • HeadquartersTown Hall
 • MayorRosy Senanayake (UNP)
Area
 • Capital city (executive and judicial)37.31 km2 (14.41 sq mi)
 • Land699 km2 (270 sq mi)
 • Metro
3,684 km2 (1,422 sq mi)
Elevation
1 m (3 ft)
Population
 (2011[1])
 • Capital city (executive and judicial)752,993
 • Density20,182/km2 (52,270/sq mi)
 • Urban
2,323,826
 • Metro
5,648,000
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (SLST)
Postal code
0xxxx
Area code011
Websitecolombo.mc.gov.lk

Due to its large harbour and its strategic position along the East–West sea trade routes, Colombo was known to ancient traders 2,000 years ago.[citation needed] It was made the capital of the island when Sri Lanka was ceded to the British Empire in 1815,[10] and its status as capital was retained when the nation became independent in 1948. In 1978, when administrative functions were moved to Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Colombo was designated as the commercial capital of Sri Lanka.

Like many cities, Colombo's urban area extends well beyond the boundaries of a single local authority,[citation needed] encompassing other municipal and urban councils such as Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Municipal Council, Dehiwala Mount Lavinia Municipal Council, Kolonnawa Urban Council, Kaduwela Municipal Council, and Kotikawatte Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha.[citation needed] The main city is home to a majority of Sri Lanka's corporate offices, restaurants, and entertainment venues.[11] Famous landmarks in Colombo include Galle Face Green, Viharamahadevi Park, Beira Lake, Colombo Racecourse, Planetarium, University of Colombo, Mount Lavinia beach, Dehiwala Zoological Garden, Nelum Pokuna Theatre, One Galle Face, Gangaramaya Temple, Dutch Museum, Colombo Lotus Tower as well as the National Museum.

Etymology

 
Coat of arms of Colombo from the Dutch Ceylon era, depicting a mango tree

The name 'Colombo', first introduced by the Portuguese in 1505, is believed to be derived from the classical Sinhala name කොලොන් තොට Kolon thota, meaning "port on the river Kelani".[12]

Another belief is that the name is derived from the Sinhala name කොල-අඹ-තොට Kola-amba-thota which means 'Harbour with leafy/green mango trees'.[11] This coincides with Robert Knox's history of the island while he was a prisoner in Kandy. He writes that "On the West, the City of Columbo, so-called from a Tree the Natives call Ambo, (which bears the Mango-fruit) growing in that place; but this never bear fruit, but only leaves, which in their Language is Cola and thence they called the Tree Colambo: which the Christians in honour of Columbus turned to Columbo."

The author of the oldest Sinhala grammar, Sidatsangarava, written in the 13th century wrote about a category of words that exclusively belonged to early Sinhala. It lists naramba (to see) and kolamba (ford or harbour) as deriving from the indigenous Vedda language. Kolamba may also be the source of the name of the commercial capital Colombo.[13][14]

History

As Colombo possesses a natural harbour, it was known to Indian, Greek, Persian, Roman, Arab and Chinese traders over 2,000 years ago.[citation needed] Traveller Ibn Battuta who visited the island in the 14th century, referred to it as Kalanpu.[15] Arabs, whose prime interests were trade, began to settle in Colombo around the eighth century AD mostly because the port helped their business by the way of controlling much of the trade between the Sinhalese kingdoms and the outside world. Their descendants now comprise the local Sri Lankan Moor community.[10][16]

Portuguese era

Portuguese explorers led by Dom Lourenço de Almeida first arrived in Sri Lanka in 1505. During their initial visit they made a treaty with the King of Kotte, Parakramabahu VIII (1484–1518), which enabled them to trade in the island's crop of cinnamon, which lay along with the coastal areas of the island, including in Colombo.[17] As part of the treaty, the Portuguese were given full authority over the coastline in exchange for the promise of guarding the coast against invaders. They were allowed to establish a trading post in Colombo.[17] Within a short time, however, they expelled the Muslim inhabitants of Colombo and began to build a fort in 1517.

The Portuguese soon realised that control of Sri Lanka was necessary for the protection of their coastal establishments in India and they began to manipulate the rulers of the Kotte kingdom to gain control of the area. After skilfully exploiting rivalries within the royal family, they took control of a large area of the kingdom and the Sinhalese King Mayadunne established a new kingdom at Sitawaka, a domain in the Kotte kingdom.[17] Before long he annexed much of the Kotte kingdom and forced the Portuguese to retreat to Colombo, which was repeatedly besieged by Mayadunne and the later kings of Sitawaka, forcing them to seek reinforcement from their major base in Goa, India. Following the fall of the kingdom in 1593, the Portuguese were able to establish complete control over the coastal area, with Colombo as their capital.[17][18] This part of Colombo is still known as Fort and houses the presidential palace and the majority of Colombo's five star hotels. The area immediately outside Fort is known as Pettah (Sinhala: පිට කොටුව piṭa koṭuva, "outer fort") and is a commercial hub.

Dutch era

 
Dutch engraving of Colombo in about 1680

In 1638 the Dutch signed a treaty with King Rajasinha II of Kandy which assured the king assistance in his war against the Portuguese in exchange for a monopoly of the island's major trade goods. The Portuguese resisted the Dutch and the Kandyans but were gradually defeated in their strongholds beginning in 1639.[19] The Dutch captured Colombo in 1656 after an epic siege, at the end of which a mere 93 Portuguese survivors were given safe conduct out of the fort. Although the Dutch (e.g., Rijcklof van Goens) initially restored the captured area back to the Sinhalese kings, they later refused to turn them over and gained control over the island's richest cinnamon lands including Colombo which then served as the capital of the Dutch maritime provinces under the control of the Dutch East India Company until 1796.[19][20]

British era

 
Map of Colombo, c. 1914

Although the British captured Colombo in 1796, it remained a British military outpost until the Kandyan Kingdom was ceded to them in 1815 and they made Colombo the capital of their newly created crown colony of British Ceylon. Unlike the Portuguese and Dutch before them, whose primary use of Colombo was as a military fort, the British began constructing houses and other civilian structures around the fort, giving rise to the current City of Colombo.[10]

Initially, they placed the administration of the city under a "Collector", and John Macdowell of the Madras Service was the first to hold the office. Then, in 1833, the Government Agent of the Western Province was charged with the administration of the city. Centuries of colonial rule had meant a decline of indigenous administration of Colombo and in 1865 the British conceived a Municipal Council as a means of training the local population in self-governance. The Legislative Council of Ceylon constituted the Colombo Municipal Council in 1865 and the Council met for the first time on 16 January 1866. At the time, the population of the region was around 80,000.[10]

During the time they were in control of Colombo, the British were responsible for much of the planning of the present city. In some parts of the city, tram car tracks and granite flooring laid during the era are still visible today.[20][21]

After independence

 
The formal ceremony marking the start of self-rule at Independence Square.

This era of colonialism ended peacefully in 1948 when Ceylon gained independence from Britain.[22] Due to the tremendous impact this caused on the city's inhabitants and on the country as a whole, the changes that resulted at the end of the colonial period were drastic. An entire new culture took root. Changes in laws and customs, clothing styles, religions and proper names were a significant result of the colonial era.[22] These cultural changes were followed by the strengthening of the island's economy. Even today, the influence of the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British is visible in Colombo's architecture, names, clothing, food, language and attitudes. Buildings from all three eras stand as reminders of the turbulent past of Colombo. The city and its people show an interesting mix of European clothing and lifestyles together with local customs.[22]

Historically, Colombo referred to the area around the Fort and Pettah Market which is known for the variety of products available as well as the Khan Clock Tower, a local landmark. At present, it refers to the city limits of the Colombo Municipal Council.[23] More often, the name is used for the Conurbation known as Greater Colombo, which encompasses several Municipal councils including Kotte, Dehiwela and Colombo.

Although Colombo lost its status as the capital of Sri Lanka in the 1980s to Sri Jayawardanapura, it continues to be the island's commercial centre. Despite the official capital of Sri Lanka moving to the adjacent Sri Jayawardanapura Kotte, most countries still maintain their diplomatic missions in Colombo.[24]

Geography

 
The Beira Lake at night

Colombo's geography is a mix of land and water. The city has many canals and, in the heart of the city, the 65-hectare (160-acre) Beira Lake.[25] The lake is one of the most distinctive landmarks of Colombo and was used for centuries by colonists to defend the city.[25] It remains a tourist attraction, hosting regattas,[26] and theatrical events on its shores. The Northern and North-Eastern border of the city of Colombo is formed by the Kelani River, which meets the sea in a part of the city known as the Modera (mōdara in Sinhala) which means river delta.

Climate

Colombo features a tropical monsoon climate (Am) under the Köppen climate classification, falling just short of a tropical rainforest climate (Af). Colombo's climate is hot throughout the year. From March to April the average high temperature is around 31 °C (87.8 °F).[27] The only major change in the Colombo weather occurs during the monsoon seasons from April to June and September to November, when heavy rains occur. Colombo sees little relative diurnal range of temperature, although this is more marked in the drier winter months, where minimum temperatures average 22 °C (71.6 °F). Rainfall in the city averages around 2,500 millimetres (98 in) a year.[28]

Climate data for Colombo, Sri Lanka (1961–1990, extremes 1961–2012)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 35.2
(95.4)
35.6
(96.1)
36.1
(97.0)
35.2
(95.4)
33.2
(91.8)
33.5
(92.3)
32.2
(90.0)
32.2
(90.0)
32.5
(90.5)
33.6
(92.5)
34.0
(93.2)
35.0
(95.0)
36.1
(97.0)
Average high °C (°F) 31.0
(87.8)
31.2
(88.2)
31.7
(89.1)
31.8
(89.2)
31.1
(88.0)
30.4
(86.7)
30.0
(86.0)
30.0
(86.0)
30.2
(86.4)
30.0
(86.0)
30.2
(86.4)
30.4
(86.7)
30.7
(87.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 26.6
(79.9)
26.9
(80.4)
27.7
(81.9)
28.2
(82.8)
28.3
(82.9)
27.9
(82.2)
27.6
(81.7)
27.6
(81.7)
27.5
(81.5)
27.0
(80.6)
26.7
(80.1)
26.6
(79.9)
27.4
(81.3)
Average low °C (°F) 22.3
(72.1)
22.7
(72.9)
23.7
(74.7)
24.6
(76.3)
25.5
(77.9)
25.5
(77.9)
25.1
(77.2)
25.1
(77.2)
24.8
(76.6)
24.0
(75.2)
23.2
(73.8)
22.8
(73.0)
24.1
(75.4)
Record low °C (°F) 16.4
(61.5)
18.8
(65.8)
17.7
(63.9)
21.2
(70.2)
20.5
(68.9)
21.4
(70.5)
21.4
(70.5)
21.6
(70.9)
21.2
(70.2)
21.0
(69.8)
18.6
(65.5)
18.1
(64.6)
16.4
(61.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 58.2
(2.29)
72.7
(2.86)
128.0
(5.04)
245.6
(9.67)
392.4
(15.45)
184.9
(7.28)
121.9
(4.80)
119.5
(4.70)
245.4
(9.66)
365.4
(14.39)
414.4
(16.31)
175.3
(6.90)
2,523.7
(99.35)
Average precipitation days 5 5 9 14 16 16 12 11 15 17 15 10 145
Average relative humidity (%) (at Daytime) 69 69 71 75 78 79 78 77 78 78 76 73 75
Mean monthly sunshine hours 248.0 246.4 275.9 234.0 201.5 195.0 201.5 201.5 189.0 201.5 210.0 217.0 2,621.3
Source 1: NOAA[29] World Meteorological Organization (precipitation only)[28]
Source 2: Deutscher Wetterdienst (extremes)[30]

Attractions

 
The Seema Malakaya of the Gangarama Temple in the Beira Lake in the Slave Island area is one of many religious structures in Colombo

Galle Face Green is located in the heart of the city along the Indian Ocean coast and is a destination for tourists and residents alike. The Galle Face Hotel is a historic landmark on the southern edge of this promenade.

Gangaramaya Temple is one of the most important temples in Colombo. The temple's architecture demonstrates an eclectic mix of Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian and Chinese architecture.[31]

The Viharamahadevi Park (formerly Victoria Park) is an urban park located next to the National Museum of Colombo and the Town Hall. It is the oldest and largest park in Colombo and features a large Buddha statue.

As part of the Urban Regeneration Program of the Government of Sri Lanka, many old sites and buildings were revamped into modern public recreational spaces and shopping precincts. These include Independence Memorial Hall Square, Pettah Floating Market and Old Dutch Hospital, among others.

Demographics

Ethnicity in Colombo Municipality area (2012)[32]

  Sinhalese (36.9%)
  Sri Lankan Tamil (29.6%)
  Sri Lankan Moor (Tamil speaking Muslims) (29.0%)
  Indian Tamil (2.2%)
  Others (5%)

Colombo is a multi-religious, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural city. The population of Colombo is a mix of numerous ethnic groups, mainly Sinhalese, Sri Lankan Tamils and Sri Lankan Moor. There are also small communities of people with Chinese, Portuguese Burgher, Dutch Burgher, Malay and Indian origins living in the city, as well as numerous European expatriates. Colombo is the most populous city in Sri Lanka, with 642,163 people living within the city limits.[33] In 1866 the city had a population of around 80,000.[34]

Religion in Colombo Municipality area (2012)[35]

  Buddhism (31.4%)
  Islam (31.2%)
  Hinduism (22.6%)
  Christianity(Roman Catholic) (10.8%)
  Other Christians (3.7%)
  Others (0.1%)

Government and politics

 
Colombo Municipal Council

Local government

Colombo is a charter city, with a mayor-council government.[36] The mayor and council members are elected through local government elections held once in five years. For the past 50 years the city had been ruled by the United National Party (UNP), a right leaning party, whose business-friendly policies resonate with the population of Colombo. However, the UNP nomination list for the 2006 Municipal elections was rejected,[37] and an Independent Group supported by the UNP won the elections.[38] Uvais Mohamed Imitiyas was subsequently appointed Mayor of Colombo.[39]

The city government provides sewer, road and waste management services, in the case of water, electricity and telephone utility services the council liaises with the water supply and drainage board, the Ceylon electricity board and telephone service providers.

National capital status

Colombo was the capital of the coastal areas controlled by the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British from the 1700s to 1815 when the British gained control of the entire island following the Kandyan convention. From then until the 1980s the national capital of the island was Colombo.

During the 1980s plans were made to move the administrative capital to Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and thus move all governmental institutions out of Colombo to make way for commercial activities. As a primary step, the Parliament was moved to a new complex in Kotte, with several ministries and departments also relocated. However, the move was never completed.

Today, many governmental institutions still remain in Colombo. These include the President's House, Presidential Secretariat, Prime Minister's House (Temple Trees), Prime Minister's Office, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, Central Bank of Sri Lanka, important government ministries and departments; such as Finance (Treasury), Defence, Public Administration & Home affairs, Foreign affairs, Justice and the Military headquarters, Naval headquarters (SLNS Parakrama), Air Force headquarters (SLAF Colombo) and Police national and field force headquarters.[40][41]

Suburbs and postal codes

 
Aerial sunset view

City limits

 
Bambalapitiya area

Colombo is divided into 15 numbered areas for the purposes of postal services. Within these areas are the suburbs with their corresponding post office.

 
Map of Colombo showing its administrative districts.
Postal number City suburb
Colombo 1 Fort
Colombo 2 Slave Island, Union Place
Colombo 3 Kollupitiya
Colombo 4 Bambalapitiya
Colombo 5 Havelock Town, Kirulapone, Kirulapone North, Narahenpita
Colombo 6 Wellawatte, Pamankada,
Colombo 7 Cinnamon Gardens
Colombo 8 Borella
Colombo 9 Dematagoda
Colombo 10 Maradana, Panchikawatte
Colombo 11 Pettah
Colombo 12 Hulftsdorp
Colombo 13 Kotahena, Bloemendhal
Colombo 14 Grandpass
Colombo 15 Modara/Mutwal, Mattakkuliya, Madampitiya

Outer suburbs

Economy

 
Colombo City is the hub of Sri Lanka's economic activity

The great majority of Sri Lankan corporations have their head offices in Colombo including Aitken Spence, Ceylinco Corporation, Stassen group of companies, John Keells Holdings, Cargills, Hemas Holdings and Akbar Brothers. Some of the industries include chemicals, textiles, glass, cement, leather goods, furniture and jewellery. In the city centre is the World Trade Centre. The 40-story Twin Tower complex is the centre of important commercial establishments, in the Fort district, the city's nerve centre. Right outside the Fort area is Pettah which is derived from the Sinhala word pita which means 'out' or 'outside'.[42]

The Colombo Metropolitan area has a GDP (PPP) of $122 billion or 40% of the GDP, making it the most important aspect of the Sri Lankan economy.[citation needed]The per capita income of the Colombo Metro area stood at US$8623 and purchasing power per capita of $25,117, making it one of the most prosperous regions in South Asia.[43] The Colombo Metropolitan (CM) area is the most important industrial, commercial and administrative centre in Sri Lanka. A major share of the country's export-oriented manufacturing takes place in the CM area, which is the engine of growth for Sri Lanka.

 
Galle Face Green, where many major events take place, is a favourite location for many. It is in close proximity to many of the major hotels. Formerly, it was the site of the city's racecourse, golf course and the cricket field

The Western province contributes less than 40% to the GDP and about 80% of industrial value additions although it accounts for only 5.7% of the country's geographic area and 25% of the national population. Given its importance as the primary international gateway for Sri Lanka and as the main economic driver of the country, the government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) has launched an ambitious program to transform Colombo and its area into a metropolis of international standards. Bottlenecks are preventing the Colombo metropolitan area from realizing its full economic potential. To facilitate the transformation of Colombo, the government has to address these bottlenecks which have for long been obstructing economic and physical urban regeneration.[44]

Pettah is more crowded than the Fort area. Pettah's roads are always packed and pavements are full of small stalls selling items from delicious sharbat to shirts. Main Street consists mostly of clothes shops and the crossroads, which are known as Cross-Streets where each of the five streets specialises in a specific business. For example, First Cross Street is mostly electronic goods shops, the Second cellular phones and fancy goods. Most of these businesses are dominated by Muslim traders. At the end of Main Street further away from Fort is Sea Street – Sri Lanka's gold market – dominated by Tamil interests. This mile-long street is full of jewellery shops,[42] including the former head office of SriLankan Airlines.[45]

Law enforcement and crime

 
The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka is located in Colombo

The Sri Lanka Police, the main law enforcement agency of the island, liaise with the municipal council but is under the control of the Ministry of Defence of the central government.[46] Policing in Colombo and its suburbs falls within the Metropolitan Range headed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Metropolitan), this also includes the Colombo Crime Division.[47] As with most Sri Lankan cities, the magistrate court handles felony crimes, the district court handles civil cases.

As in other large cities around the world, Colombo experiences certain levels of street crime and bribery. Indeed, the corruption extends to the very top, US reports show. In addition, in the period from the 1980s to 2009, there have been a number of major terrorist attacks.[48][49] The LTTE has been linked to most of the bombings and assassinations in the city.[50] Welikada Prison is situated in Colombo and it is one of the largest maximum-security prisons in the country.[51]

Infrastructure

 
Colombo's streets at night

Colombo has most of the amenities that a modern city has. Compared to other parts of the country, Colombo has the highest degree of infrastructure. Electricity, water and transport to street lights and phone booths are to a considerably good standard. The majority of the major shopping malls in Sri Lanka are in the city, of which all are Wi-Fi enabled. Apart from that, many luxurious hotels, clubs and restaurants are in the city. In recent times there has been an outpour of high-rise condominiums, mainly due to the very high land prices.[52]

Harbour

 
Container handling at Colombo Port.

Colombo Harbour is the largest and one of the busiest ports in Sri Lanka. Colombo was established primarily as a port city during the colonial era, with an artificial harbour that has been expanded over the years. The Sri Lanka Navy maintains a naval base, SLNS Rangalla, within the harbour.

The Port of Colombo handled 3.75 million twenty-foot equivalent units in 2008, 10.6% up on 2007 (which itself was 9.7% up on 2006), bucking the global economic trend. Of those, 817,000 were local shipments with the rest transshipments. With a capacity of 5.7 million TEUs and a dredged depth of over 15 m (49 ft), the Colombo Harbour is one of the busiest ports in the world and ranks among the top 25 ports (23rd).

Colombo is part of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road that runs from the Chinese coast to the Upper Adriatic region with its rail connections to Central and Eastern Europe.[53][54][55][56][57]

Transport

Bus

Colombo has an extensive public transport system based on buses operated both by private operators and the government-owned Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB). The three primary bus terminals – Bastian Mawatha, Central and the Gunasinghapura Bus Terminals – are in Pettah.[58] Bastian Mawatha handles long-distance services whereas Gunasinghapura and Central handle local services.

Rail

 
Commuter rail within the city

Train transport in the city is limited since most trains are meant for transport to and from the city rather than within it and are often overcrowded. However, the Central Bus Stand and Fort Railway Station function as the island's primary hub for bus and rail transport respectively. Up until the 1970s, the city had tram services, which were discontinued. Other means of transport include auto rickshaws (commonly called "three-wheelers") and taxicabs. Three-wheelers are entirely operated by individuals and hardly regulated whilst cab services are run by private companies and are metered.

Roads

Post-war development in the Colombo area also involves the construction of numerous expressway grade arterial road routes. The first of these constructed is the Southern Expressway, which goes from Kottawa, a southern suburb of Colombo, to Matara City in the south of the country. Expressways constructed in the Colombo metropolitan area include the Colombo–Katunayake Expressway, which was opened in October 2013 and the Colombo orbital bypass Outer Circular Highway (Arthur C. Clarke Expressway). The Colombo-Katunayake Expressway (E03) runs from Peliyagoda, a northern suburb of Colombo, to Colombo International Airport and it is linked with one of the major commercial hubs and a major tourist destination of the country, the city of Negombo.[59][60]

Ferry

An international ferry liner, the Scotia Prince, is conducting a ferry service to Tuticorin, India. Ferry services between the two countries have been revived after more than 20 years.[61]

Air

 
Ratmalana Airport

Ratmalana Airport is the city's airport, located 15 km (9.3 mi) south of the city centre. It commenced operating in 1935 and was the country's first international airport until it was replaced by Bandaranaike Airport in 1967. Ratmalana Airport now primarily services domestic flights, aviation training and international corporate flights.

Landmarks

 
Colombo Skyline – 2017

The two World Trade Centre towers used to be the most recognised landmarks of the city. Before they were completed in 1997, the adjacent Bank of Ceylon tower was the tallest structure and the most prominent city landmark. Before the skyscrapers were built, the Old Parliament Building that stood in the Fort district with the Old Colombo Lighthouse close to it used to be the tallest building. Another important landmark is the Independence Hall at Independence Square in Cinnamon Gardens.

Even before the parliament was built some claim that the Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque was recognised as the landmark of Colombo by sailors approaching the port. The mosque is still one of the most visited tourist sites in Colombo.[citation needed]

Another landmark is St.Paul's Church Milagiriya, one of the oldest churches in Sri Lanka, first built by the Portuguese and rebuilt by the British in 1848. The Cargills & Millers building in Fort is also a protected building of historical significance.

The Galle Face Green is the city's largest promenade. Lined with coconut trees and adjacent to the coast. The Green frequently hosts international and local concerts and performances, such as the World Drum Festival.[citation needed]

Cannons that were once mounted on the rampart of the old fort of Colombo were laid out for observance and prestige at the Green. The colonial styled Galle Face Hotel, known as Asia's Emerald on the Green since 1864, is adjacent to Galle Face Green. The hotel has played host to guests such as the British Royal Family and other royal guests and celebrities. After a stay at the hotel, Princess Alexandra of Denmark commented that "the peacefulness and generosity encountered at the Galle Face Hotel cannot be matched."[62] Also facing Galle Face Green is the Ceylon Inter-Continental Hotel.

Education

 
Royal College Colombo, the oldest public school in the city.

Education institutions in Colombo have a long history. Colombo has many of the prominent public schools in the country, some of them government-owned and others private. Most of the prominent schools in the city date back to the 1800s when they were established during the British colonial rule,[63] such as the Royal College Colombo established in 1835. Certain urban schools of Sri Lanka have some religious alignment; this is partly due to the influence of the British, who established Christian missionary schools.[64][65] These include the Anglican, Bishop's College(1875); the Methodist, Wesley College Colombo (1874); the Buddhist, Ananda College (1886); the Muslim, Zahira College (1892); the St. Benedict's College, Colombo (1985), the Catholic, St. Joseph's College (1896). The religious alignments do not affect the curriculum of the school except for the demographics of the student population.[64] Colombo has many International Schools that have come up in recent years.

Higher education in the city has a long history, beginning with the establishment of the Colombo Medical School (1870), the Colombo Law College (1875), the School of Agriculture (1884) and the Government Technical College (1893). The first step in the creation of a university in Colombo was taken in 1913 with the establishment of the University College Colombo which prepared students for the external examinations of the University of London. This was followed by the establishment of the University of Ceylon in Colombo.[66] Today the University of Colombo and the University of the Visual & Performing Arts are state universities in the city. The Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology has a metropolitan campus in the city centre. There are several private higher education institutions in the city.

Architecture

 
The Red Mosque

Colombo has widely varying architecture that spans centuries and depicts many styles. Colonial buildings influenced by the Portuguese, Dutch and British exist alongside structures built in Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, Indian and Contemporary architectural styles. No other place is this more evident than in the Fort area. Here, one may find new, towering skyscrapers as well as historic buildings dating far back as the 1700s.[67][68]

Colombo Fort

The Portuguese were the first colonists to settle in Colombo. Establishing a small trading post, they had laid the foundations for a small fort which in time became the largest colonial fort on the island. The Dutch expanded the fort, thus creating a well old fortified harbour. This came into the possession of the British in the late 1700s, and by the late 19th century, seeing no threat to the Colombo Harbour, began demolishing the ramparts to make way for the development of the city. Although now there is nothing left of the fortifications, the area which was once the fort is still referred to as Fort. The area outside is Pettah, Sri Lanka or පිටකොටුව Pitakotuwa in Sinhala which means outer fort.[67][68]

 
The VOC (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie) logo of Dutch East India Company on the gates of Wolvendaal Church

Dutch-era buildings

There are none of the buildings of the Portuguese era and only a few from the Dutch period. These include the oldest building in the fort area, the former Dutch Hospital, the Dutch House which is now the Colombo Dutch Museum and several churches. The President's House (formerly the Queen's House) was originally the Dutch governor's house and successive British governors made it their office and residence. However, it has undergone much change since the Dutch period. Adjoining the President's House are the Gordon Gardens, now off-limits to the public.[67][68][69]

British-era buildings

Much of the old buildings of the fort area and in other parts of the city date back to British times; these include governmental, commercial buildings, and private houses. Some of the notable government building of British colonial architecture includes the old Parliament building, which is now the Presidential Secretariat; the Republic Building, which houses the Ministry of Foreign affairs but once housed the Ceylon Legislative council; the General Treasury Building; the old General Post Office, an Edwardian-style building opposite the President's House; the Prime Minister's Office; the Central Telegraph Office; and the Mathematics department of the University of Colombo (formally the Royal College, Colombo).[66] Notable commercial buildings of the British era include the Galle Face Hotel, Cargills and Millers' complex, and the Grand Oriental Hotel.[67][68]

Culture

Annual cultural events and fairs

 
Vesak Thorana in Colombo
 
Christmas Celebrations in Colombo

Colombo's most popular festival is the celebration of Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death all falling on the same day.[70] In Sinhala this is known as Vesak.[70] During this festival, much of the city is decorated with lanterns, lights and special displays of light (known as thoran). The festival falls in mid-May and lasts a week. Many Sri Lankans visit the city to see the lantern competitions and decorations. During this week people distribute, rice, drinks and other food items for free in dunsal which means charity place. These dunsal are popular amongst visitors from the suburbs.

Since there is a large number of Muslims in Colombo. Eid Ul Fitr and Eid Ul Adha are two Islamic festivals that are celebrated in Colombo. Many businesses flourish during the eventual countdown for Eid Ul Fitr which is a major Islamic festival celebrated by Muslims after a month-long fasting. Colombo is generally very busy on the eve of the festivals as people do their last-minute shopping.

Christmas is another major festival. Although Sri Lanka's Christians make up only just over 7% of the population, Christmas is one of the island's biggest festivals. Most streets and commercial buildings light up from the beginning of December and festive sales begin at all shopping centres and department stores. Caroling and nativity plays are frequent sights during the season.

The Sinhalese and Hindu Aluth Awurudda' is a cultural event that takes place on 13 and 14 April. This is the celebration of the Sinhalese and Hindu new year. The festivities include many events and traditions that display a great deal of Sri Lankan culture. Several old clubs of the city give a glimpse of the British equestrian lifestyle; these include the Colombo Club, Orient Club, the 80 Club, and the Colombo Cricket Club.

Performing arts

 
The Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre is a major venue for the performing arts

Colombo has several performing arts centres, which are popular for their musical and theatrical performances, including the Lionel Wendt Theatre, the Elphinstone, and Tower Hall, all of which were made for western-style productions. The Navarangahala found in the city is the country's first national theatre designed and built for Asian and local style musical and theatrical productions.

The Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre is a world-class theatre that opened in December 2011.[71] Designed in the form of the Lotus Pond in Polonnaruwa,[72][better source needed] the theatre is a major theatre destination.

Museums and art collections

The National Museum of Colombo, established on 1 January 1877 during the tenure of the British Colonial Governor Sir William Henry Gregory, is in the Cinnamon Gardens area.[73] The museum houses the crown jewels and throne of the last king of the kingdom of Kandy, Sri Vikrama Rajasinha.[74]

There is also the Colombo Dutch Museum detailing the Dutch colonial history of the country. Colombo does not boast a very big art gallery. There is a small collection of random Sri Lankan paintings at the Art Gallery in Green Path; next to it is the Natural History Museum.

Sports

 
Colombo Racecourse ground

One of the most popular sports in Sri Lanka is cricket. The country emerged as champions of the 1996 Cricket World Cup and became runners up in 2007 and 2011. In the ICC World Twenty20 they became runners up in 2009 and 2012 and winners in 2014. The sport is played in parks, playgrounds, beaches and even in the streets. Colombo is the home for two of the country's most popular international cricket stadiums, Singhalese Sports Club's Cricket Stadium and R. Premadasa Stadium (named after late president Premadasa). Colombo Stars represents the city in Lanka Premier League.

Colombo has the distinction of being the only city in the world to have four cricket test venues in the past: Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Stadium, Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground, Colombo Cricket Club Ground and Ranasinghe Premadasa Stadium. The Sugathadasa Stadium is an international standard stadium for athletics, swimming and football, also held the South Asian Games in 1991 and 2006. Situated in Colombo the Royal Colombo Golf Club is one of the oldest in Asia. Other sporting clubs in Colombo include Colombo Swimming Club, Colombo Rowing Club and the Yachting Association of Sri Lanka.

Rugby is also a popular sport at the club and school levels. Colombo has its local football team Colombo FC and the sport is being developed as a part of the FIFA Goal program.

The Colombo Port City is to include a new Formula One track, constructed in the vicinity of the Colombo Harbour. According to Dr Priyath Wickrama, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, an eight-lane F1 track will "definitely" be a part of the New Port City. This would host the Sri Lankan Grand Prix.

Colombo Marathon is an internationally recognised marathon established in 1998.

Media

Almost all major media businesses in Sri Lanka operate from Colombo. The state media has its offices in Bullers Road and carries out regional transmissions from there. These include the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), formerly known as Radio Ceylon, and the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation. The SLBC is the oldest radio station in South Asia and the second oldest in the world. Many private broadcasting companies have their offices and transmission stations in or around Colombo. As with most metro areas, radio bands are highly utilised for radio communications. Some of the prominent radio stations broadcasting in the Colombo area are Sirasa FM, FM Derana, Hiru FM, Shakthi FM, Vettri FM, Sooriyan FM, Kiss FM, Lite FM, Yes FM, Gold FM, Sith FM, Y FM and many more.

Television networks operating in the Colombo metro area include the state-owned television broadcasting networks which are broadcast by the Rupavahini Corporation of Sri Lanka, broadcasting television in the official languages Sinhala and Tamil. English language television is also broadcast, more targeted to the demographics of the English speaking Sri Lankans, expatriate communities and tourists. There are as well several private operators. Many of the privately run television station networks were often based upon operational expansions of pre-existing commercial radio networks and broadcast infrastructure.

Twin towns and sister cities

Country City State / Region Since
Nepal Biratnagar Morang District 1874
Russia Saint Petersburg N/A 1997
China Shanghai N/A 2003
United Kingdom Leeds West Yorkshire 2008
Mongolia Ulan Bator 2012
Maldives Malé Kaafu Atoll 2013
Maldives Maroshi Shaviyani Atoll 2015

Notable people

See Category:People from Colombo

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ^ a b . Census of Population & Housing, 2011. Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  2. ^ "Colombo". Collins English Dictionary (13th ed.). HarperCollins. 2018. ISBN 978-0-008-28437-4.
  3. ^ . Official Sri Lanka government website. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  4. ^ Kumarage A, Amal (1 November 2007). (PDF). Global Urban Development Volume 3 Issue 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  5. ^ (PDF). 2013. Brookings Institution. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  6. ^ "Colombo: The Heartbeat of Sri Lanka/ Metro Colombo Urban Development Project". The World Bank. 21 March 2013. from the original on 12 April 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  7. ^ (PDF). UN Habitat. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016.
  8. ^ . Archived from the original on 20 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  9. ^ Jayewarden. "How Colombo Derived its Name". from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2007.
  10. ^ a b c d . Archived from the original on 2 December 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2007.
  11. ^ a b World Executive Colombo Hotels and City Guide 2016-03-02 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ . Padma Edirisinghe. The Sunday Observer. 14 February 2004. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.
  13. ^ Indrapala, Karthigesu (2007). The evolution of an ethnic identity: The Tamils in Sri Lanka C. 300 BCE to C. 1200 CE. Colombo: Vijitha Yapa. p. 70. ISBN 978-955-1266-72-1.
  14. ^ Gair, James (1998). Studies in South Asian Linguistics. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 5. ISBN 978-0-19-509521-0.
  15. ^ John, Still (1996). Index to the Mahawansa:Together with Chronological Table of Wars and Genealogical Trees. AES. p. 85. ISBN 978-81-206-1203-7.
  16. ^ Prof. Manawadu, Samitha. (PDF). p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2007.
  17. ^ a b c d "European Encroachment and Dominance:The Portuguese". Sri Lanka: A Country Study. from the original on 5 October 2006. Retrieved 2 December 2006.
  18. ^ Ross, Russell R.; Savada, Andrea Matles (1990). Sri Lanka: A Country Study. Defence Dept., Army. p. 360. ISBN 978-0-16-024055-3.
  19. ^ a b "European Encroachment and Dominance: The Dutch". Sri Lanka: A Country study. from the original on 5 October 2006. Retrieved 2 December 2006.
  20. ^ a b Ross, Russell R.; Savada, Andrea Matles (1990). Sri Lanka: A Country Study. Defense Dept., Army. p. 360. ISBN 978-0-16-024055-3.
  21. ^ "European Encroachment and Dominance: The British Replace the Dutch". Sri Lanka: A Country study. from the original on 5 October 2006. Retrieved 2 December 2006.
  22. ^ a b c Adrian, Wijemanne (1996). War and Peace in Post-Colonial Ceylon 1948–1991. Orient Longman. p. 111. ISBN 978-81-250-0364-9.
  23. ^ . Colombo Municipal Council. Archived from the original on 6 January 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2013.[circular reference]
  24. ^ GoAbroad.com, Embassies located in Sri Lanka 2016-03-02 at the Wayback Machine
  25. ^ a b The lake in the middle of Colombo 2007-10-19 at the Wayback Machine, Lanka Library
  26. ^ 35th boat race and 31st Regatta: Oarsmen of Royal and S. Thomas' clash on Beira waters 2014-02-19 at the Wayback Machine, Daily News, October 10, 2003
  27. ^ . Archived from the original on 5 October 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2006.
  28. ^ a b "World Weather Information Service – Colombo". World Meteorological Organization. from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  29. ^ "Colombo Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  30. ^ (PDF). Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world (in German). Deutscher Wetterdienst. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  31. ^ . John Keells Hotels Group. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  32. ^ . Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  33. ^ . Archived from the original on 10 June 2007. Retrieved 22 November 2016., Additional source (PDF). Archived from the original on 26 December 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016. The totals are calculated through enumerations made from Colombo Divisional Secretariat and the Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat, which is also part of Colombo Municipal Council.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  34. ^ Port of Colombo 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine. World Port Source.
  35. ^ . Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  36. ^ . Archived from the original on 13 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  37. ^ Colombo UNP list rejected 2015-10-16 at the Wayback Machine, BBC News, February 16, 2006
  38. ^ Independent group wins CMC 2015-10-16 at the Wayback Machine, BBC News, May 21, 2006
  39. ^ Rotational mayors as Colombo gets trishaw driver as her first citizen 2007-07-16 at the Wayback Machine, Sunday Times, May 28, 2006
  40. ^ . Justice Ministry. Archived from the original on 18 November 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  41. ^ . Government of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 9 March 2007. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  42. ^ a b . Archived from the original on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  43. ^ (PDF). CBSL. 10 July 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  44. ^ (PDF). Ministry of Defence & Urban Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  45. ^ "World Airline Directory." Also ranked of the best land in the world of WWNEconomy Flight International. 14–20 March 1990 "Airlift International" 57 2011-08-09 at the Wayback Machine
  46. ^ Organizational Structure 2007-08-27 at the Wayback Machine, Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka
  47. ^ The drama behind the arrest of Sepala Eknayake, by Edward Gunawardena Retd. Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police 2011-01-20 at the Wayback Machine. Island.lk.
  48. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 October 2001. Retrieved 3 October 2001.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  49. ^ . Archived from the original on 22 September 2006. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  50. ^ Jane's Sentinel examines the success of the LTTE in resisting the Sri Lankan forces April 15, 2009, at the Wayback Machine[circular reference]
  51. ^ President orders SB's release October 22, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, LankaNewspapers.com, February 16, 2006
  52. ^ . lanka-houses.com. Archived from the original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  53. ^ In Sri Lanka, the new Chinese Silk Road is a disappointment
  54. ^ China 'Silk Road' Project in Sri Lanka Delayed as Beijing Toughens Stance
  55. ^ Wolf D. Hartmann, Wolfgang Maennig, Run Wang: Chinas neue Seidenstraße. (2017).
  56. ^ Jean-Marc F. Blanchard "China's Maritime Silk Road Initiative and South Asia" (2018) pp 55.
  57. ^ Sri Lanka 'key component' in 21st Century Maritime Silk Road: China
  58. ^ Hasintha Weragala, Things to do in Sri Lanka (27 November 2018). . thingstodoinsrilanla.lk. Archived from the original on 4 December 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  59. ^ "A Speedy and safe journey to Galle". Dailynews.lk. 16 August 2011. from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  60. ^ Gamini Gunaratna, Sri Lanka News Paper by LankaPage.com (LLC) (7 November 2011). . Colombopage.com. Archived from the original on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  61. ^ Tuticorin-Colombo ferry sets sail 2016-10-03 at the Wayback Machine. Times of India. (2011-06-14).
  62. ^ . Archived from the original on 13 April 2007. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  63. ^ . Archived from the original on 11 April 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  64. ^ a b Harsha, Aturupane; Paul Glewwe; Wisniewski Suzanne (July 2007). "The Impact of School Quality, Socio-Economic Factors and Child Health on Students' Academic Performance: Evidence from Sri Lankan Primary Schools" (PDF). Colombo: World Bank. (PDF) from the original on 10 September 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2007.
  65. ^ Harsha, Aturupane; Paul Glewwe; Wisniewski Suzanne (February 2005). Treasures of the Education System in Sri Lanka: Restoring Performance, Expanding Opportunities and Enhancing Prospects (PDF). World Bank Report. Colombo: World Bank. ISBN 978-955-8908-14-3. (PDF) from the original on 10 September 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2007.
  66. ^ a b . Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  67. ^ a b c d Colombo Fort 2015-12-22 at the Wayback Machine. Kermeey.blogspot.com (2006-02-19). Retrieved on 2011-10-17.
  68. ^ a b c d . Reddottours.com. 7 January 2010. Archived from the original on 12 December 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  69. ^ Dutch Colonial Remains 2016-02-21 at the Wayback Machine. Colonialvoyage.com. Retrieved on 2011-10-17.
  70. ^ a b Venerable Mahinda. "Significance of Vesak". www.buddhanet.net. from the original on 19 February 2007. Retrieved 19 February 2007.
  71. ^ . Daily Mirror. 15 December 2011. Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  72. ^ Prins, Stephen. "A National Treasure". from the original on 21 August 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  73. ^ . Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2007.
  74. ^ "History of Colombo National Museum". Retrieved 22 November 2016.[permanent dead link]
  75. ^ Ceylon, the Land of Eternal Charm, Ali Foad Toulba (Asian Educational Services) p.237 ISBN 9788120614949

Further reading

The following books contain major components on Colombo:

  • Changing Face of Colombo (1501–1972): Covering the Portuguese, Dutch and British Periods, by R.L. Brohier, 1984 (Lake House, Colombo)
  • The Port of Colombo 1860–1939, K. Dharmasena, 1980 (Lake House, Colombo)
  • Decolonizing Ceylon: Colonialism, Nationalism and the Politics of Space in Sri Lanka, by Nihal Perera, 1999 (Oxford University Press)
  • the Essential guide for Colombo and its region, Philippe Fabry, Negombo, Viator Publications, 2011, 175 p., ISBN 978-955-8736-09-8
  • The impact of the Tsunami on households and vulnerable groups in two districts in Sri Lanka : Galle and Colombo, Swarna Jayaweera, Centre for Women's Research, Colombo, 2005
  • Patterns of Community Structure in Colombo, Sri Lanka, An investigation of Contemporary Urban Life in South Asia, Neville S. Arachchige-Don, University Press, Maryland, 1994
  • Colombo, Carl Muller, Penguin Books, New Delhi, 1995

colombo, confused, with, columbo, other, uses, disambiguation, sinhala, ළඹ, romanized, koḷam, ˈkoləᵐbə, tamil, romanized, koḻumpu, koɻumbɯ, executive, judicial, capital, largest, city, lanka, population, according, brookings, institution, metropolitan, area, p. Not to be confused with Columbo For other uses see Colombo disambiguation Colombo k e ˈ l ʌ m b oʊ ke LUM boh 2 Sinhala ක ළඹ romanized Koḷam ba IPA ˈkoleᵐbe Tamil க ழ ம ப romanized Koḻumpu IPA koɻumbɯ is the executive and judicial capital 3 and largest city of Sri Lanka by population According to the Brookings Institution Colombo metropolitan area has a population of 5 6 million 4 5 6 7 and 752 993 1 in the Municipality It is the financial centre of the island and a tourist destination 8 It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to the Greater Colombo area which includes Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte the legislative capital of Sri Lanka and Dehiwala Mount Lavinia Colombo is often referred to as the capital since Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is itself within the urban suburban area of Colombo It is also the administrative capital of the Western Province and the district capital of Colombo District Colombo is a busy and vibrant city with a mixture of modern life colonial buildings and monuments 9 Colombo ක ළඹ க ழ ம ப Capital city executive and judicial From top left to right The Old Parliament Building Bank of Ceylon building and WTC twin towers in the Colombo financial district of Fort Buddha statues at Seema Malaka Independence Memorial Hall The Murugan Hindu temple in Slave Island the Grand Oriental Hotel in Fort Nelum Pokuna Skyline over Galle Face Green middle with Shangri La Hotel and One Galle Face left and Indian Ocean right FlagSealColomboShow map of Colombo DistrictColomboShow map of Sri LankaColomboShow map of AsiaCoordinates 6 56 04 N 79 50 34 E 6 93444 N 79 84278 E 6 93444 79 84278 Coordinates 6 56 04 N 79 50 34 E 6 93444 N 79 84278 E 6 93444 79 84278CountrySri LankaProvinceWestern ProvinceDistrictColombo DistrictGovernment Municipal CouncilColombo Municipal Council HeadquartersTown Hall MayorRosy Senanayake UNP Area Capital city executive and judicial 37 31 km2 14 41 sq mi Land699 km2 270 sq mi Metro3 684 km2 1 422 sq mi Elevation1 m 3 ft Population 2011 1 Capital city executive and judicial 752 993 Density20 182 km2 52 270 sq mi Urban2 323 826 Metro5 648 000Time zoneUTC 05 30 SLST Postal code0xxxxArea code011Websitecolombo wbr mc wbr gov wbr lkDue to its large harbour and its strategic position along the East West sea trade routes Colombo was known to ancient traders 2 000 years ago citation needed It was made the capital of the island when Sri Lanka was ceded to the British Empire in 1815 10 and its status as capital was retained when the nation became independent in 1948 In 1978 when administrative functions were moved to Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Colombo was designated as the commercial capital of Sri Lanka Like many cities Colombo s urban area extends well beyond the boundaries of a single local authority citation needed encompassing other municipal and urban councils such as Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Municipal Council Dehiwala Mount Lavinia Municipal Council Kolonnawa Urban Council Kaduwela Municipal Council and Kotikawatte Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha citation needed The main city is home to a majority of Sri Lanka s corporate offices restaurants and entertainment venues 11 Famous landmarks in Colombo include Galle Face Green Viharamahadevi Park Beira Lake Colombo Racecourse Planetarium University of Colombo Mount Lavinia beach Dehiwala Zoological Garden Nelum Pokuna Theatre One Galle Face Gangaramaya Temple Dutch Museum Colombo Lotus Tower as well as the National Museum Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 2 1 Portuguese era 2 2 Dutch era 2 3 British era 2 4 After independence 3 Geography 3 1 Climate 4 Attractions 5 Demographics 6 Government and politics 6 1 Local government 6 2 National capital status 7 Suburbs and postal codes 7 1 City limits 7 2 Outer suburbs 8 Economy 9 Law enforcement and crime 10 Infrastructure 10 1 Harbour 10 2 Transport 10 2 1 Bus 10 2 2 Rail 10 2 3 Roads 10 2 4 Ferry 10 2 5 Air 10 3 Landmarks 11 Education 12 Architecture 12 1 Colombo Fort 12 2 Dutch era buildings 12 3 British era buildings 13 Culture 13 1 Annual cultural events and fairs 13 2 Performing arts 13 3 Museums and art collections 13 4 Sports 13 5 Media 14 Twin towns and sister cities 15 Notable people 16 Gallery 17 See also 18 References 19 Further readingEtymology Edit Coat of arms of Colombo from the Dutch Ceylon era depicting a mango tree The name Colombo first introduced by the Portuguese in 1505 is believed to be derived from the classical Sinhala name ක ල න ත ට Kolon thota meaning port on the river Kelani 12 Another belief is that the name is derived from the Sinhala name ක ල අඹ ත ට Kola amba thota which means Harbour with leafy green mango trees 11 This coincides with Robert Knox s history of the island while he was a prisoner in Kandy He writes that On the West the City of Columbo so called from a Tree the Natives call Ambo which bears the Mango fruit growing in that place but this never bear fruit but only leaves which in their Language is Cola and thence they called the Tree Colambo which the Christians in honour of Columbus turned to Columbo The author of the oldest Sinhala grammar Sidatsangarava written in the 13th century wrote about a category of words that exclusively belonged to early Sinhala It lists naramba to see and kolamba ford or harbour as deriving from the indigenous Vedda language Kolamba may also be the source of the name of the commercial capital Colombo 13 14 History EditAs Colombo possesses a natural harbour it was known to Indian Greek Persian Roman Arab and Chinese traders over 2 000 years ago citation needed Traveller Ibn Battuta who visited the island in the 14th century referred to it as Kalanpu 15 Arabs whose prime interests were trade began to settle in Colombo around the eighth century AD mostly because the port helped their business by the way of controlling much of the trade between the Sinhalese kingdoms and the outside world Their descendants now comprise the local Sri Lankan Moor community 10 16 Portuguese era Edit Portuguese explorers led by Dom Lourenco de Almeida first arrived in Sri Lanka in 1505 During their initial visit they made a treaty with the King of Kotte Parakramabahu VIII 1484 1518 which enabled them to trade in the island s crop of cinnamon which lay along with the coastal areas of the island including in Colombo 17 As part of the treaty the Portuguese were given full authority over the coastline in exchange for the promise of guarding the coast against invaders They were allowed to establish a trading post in Colombo 17 Within a short time however they expelled the Muslim inhabitants of Colombo and began to build a fort in 1517 The Portuguese soon realised that control of Sri Lanka was necessary for the protection of their coastal establishments in India and they began to manipulate the rulers of the Kotte kingdom to gain control of the area After skilfully exploiting rivalries within the royal family they took control of a large area of the kingdom and the Sinhalese King Mayadunne established a new kingdom at Sitawaka a domain in the Kotte kingdom 17 Before long he annexed much of the Kotte kingdom and forced the Portuguese to retreat to Colombo which was repeatedly besieged by Mayadunne and the later kings of Sitawaka forcing them to seek reinforcement from their major base in Goa India Following the fall of the kingdom in 1593 the Portuguese were able to establish complete control over the coastal area with Colombo as their capital 17 18 This part of Colombo is still known as Fort and houses the presidential palace and the majority of Colombo s five star hotels The area immediately outside Fort is known as Pettah Sinhala ප ට ක ට ව piṭa koṭuva outer fort and is a commercial hub Dutch era Edit Dutch engraving of Colombo in about 1680 In 1638 the Dutch signed a treaty with King Rajasinha II of Kandy which assured the king assistance in his war against the Portuguese in exchange for a monopoly of the island s major trade goods The Portuguese resisted the Dutch and the Kandyans but were gradually defeated in their strongholds beginning in 1639 19 The Dutch captured Colombo in 1656 after an epic siege at the end of which a mere 93 Portuguese survivors were given safe conduct out of the fort Although the Dutch e g Rijcklof van Goens initially restored the captured area back to the Sinhalese kings they later refused to turn them over and gained control over the island s richest cinnamon lands including Colombo which then served as the capital of the Dutch maritime provinces under the control of the Dutch East India Company until 1796 19 20 British era Edit Map of Colombo c 1914 Although the British captured Colombo in 1796 it remained a British military outpost until the Kandyan Kingdom was ceded to them in 1815 and they made Colombo the capital of their newly created crown colony of British Ceylon Unlike the Portuguese and Dutch before them whose primary use of Colombo was as a military fort the British began constructing houses and other civilian structures around the fort giving rise to the current City of Colombo 10 Initially they placed the administration of the city under a Collector and John Macdowell of the Madras Service was the first to hold the office Then in 1833 the Government Agent of the Western Province was charged with the administration of the city Centuries of colonial rule had meant a decline of indigenous administration of Colombo and in 1865 the British conceived a Municipal Council as a means of training the local population in self governance The Legislative Council of Ceylon constituted the Colombo Municipal Council in 1865 and the Council met for the first time on 16 January 1866 At the time the population of the region was around 80 000 10 During the time they were in control of Colombo the British were responsible for much of the planning of the present city In some parts of the city tram car tracks and granite flooring laid during the era are still visible today 20 21 After independence Edit The formal ceremony marking the start of self rule at Independence Square This era of colonialism ended peacefully in 1948 when Ceylon gained independence from Britain 22 Due to the tremendous impact this caused on the city s inhabitants and on the country as a whole the changes that resulted at the end of the colonial period were drastic An entire new culture took root Changes in laws and customs clothing styles religions and proper names were a significant result of the colonial era 22 These cultural changes were followed by the strengthening of the island s economy Even today the influence of the Portuguese the Dutch and the British is visible in Colombo s architecture names clothing food language and attitudes Buildings from all three eras stand as reminders of the turbulent past of Colombo The city and its people show an interesting mix of European clothing and lifestyles together with local customs 22 Historically Colombo referred to the area around the Fort and Pettah Market which is known for the variety of products available as well as the Khan Clock Tower a local landmark At present it refers to the city limits of the Colombo Municipal Council 23 More often the name is used for the Conurbation known as Greater Colombo which encompasses several Municipal councils including Kotte Dehiwela and Colombo Although Colombo lost its status as the capital of Sri Lanka in the 1980s to Sri Jayawardanapura it continues to be the island s commercial centre Despite the official capital of Sri Lanka moving to the adjacent Sri Jayawardanapura Kotte most countries still maintain their diplomatic missions in Colombo 24 Geography Edit The Beira Lake at night Colombo s geography is a mix of land and water The city has many canals and in the heart of the city the 65 hectare 160 acre Beira Lake 25 The lake is one of the most distinctive landmarks of Colombo and was used for centuries by colonists to defend the city 25 It remains a tourist attraction hosting regattas 26 and theatrical events on its shores The Northern and North Eastern border of the city of Colombo is formed by the Kelani River which meets the sea in a part of the city known as the Modera mōdara in Sinhala which means river delta Climate Edit Colombo features a tropical monsoon climate Am under the Koppen climate classification falling just short of a tropical rainforest climate Af Colombo s climate is hot throughout the year From March to April the average high temperature is around 31 C 87 8 F 27 The only major change in the Colombo weather occurs during the monsoon seasons from April to June and September to November when heavy rains occur Colombo sees little relative diurnal range of temperature although this is more marked in the drier winter months where minimum temperatures average 22 C 71 6 F Rainfall in the city averages around 2 500 millimetres 98 in a year 28 Climate data for Colombo Sri Lanka 1961 1990 extremes 1961 2012 Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearRecord high C F 35 2 95 4 35 6 96 1 36 1 97 0 35 2 95 4 33 2 91 8 33 5 92 3 32 2 90 0 32 2 90 0 32 5 90 5 33 6 92 5 34 0 93 2 35 0 95 0 36 1 97 0 Average high C F 31 0 87 8 31 2 88 2 31 7 89 1 31 8 89 2 31 1 88 0 30 4 86 7 30 0 86 0 30 0 86 0 30 2 86 4 30 0 86 0 30 2 86 4 30 4 86 7 30 7 87 3 Daily mean C F 26 6 79 9 26 9 80 4 27 7 81 9 28 2 82 8 28 3 82 9 27 9 82 2 27 6 81 7 27 6 81 7 27 5 81 5 27 0 80 6 26 7 80 1 26 6 79 9 27 4 81 3 Average low C F 22 3 72 1 22 7 72 9 23 7 74 7 24 6 76 3 25 5 77 9 25 5 77 9 25 1 77 2 25 1 77 2 24 8 76 6 24 0 75 2 23 2 73 8 22 8 73 0 24 1 75 4 Record low C F 16 4 61 5 18 8 65 8 17 7 63 9 21 2 70 2 20 5 68 9 21 4 70 5 21 4 70 5 21 6 70 9 21 2 70 2 21 0 69 8 18 6 65 5 18 1 64 6 16 4 61 5 Average precipitation mm inches 58 2 2 29 72 7 2 86 128 0 5 04 245 6 9 67 392 4 15 45 184 9 7 28 121 9 4 80 119 5 4 70 245 4 9 66 365 4 14 39 414 4 16 31 175 3 6 90 2 523 7 99 35 Average precipitation days 5 5 9 14 16 16 12 11 15 17 15 10 145Average relative humidity at Daytime 69 69 71 75 78 79 78 77 78 78 76 73 75Mean monthly sunshine hours 248 0 246 4 275 9 234 0 201 5 195 0 201 5 201 5 189 0 201 5 210 0 217 0 2 621 3Source 1 NOAA 29 World Meteorological Organization precipitation only 28 Source 2 Deutscher Wetterdienst extremes 30 Attractions Edit The Seema Malakaya of the Gangarama Temple in the Beira Lake in the Slave Island area is one of many religious structures in Colombo Galle Face Green is located in the heart of the city along the Indian Ocean coast and is a destination for tourists and residents alike The Galle Face Hotel is a historic landmark on the southern edge of this promenade Gangaramaya Temple is one of the most important temples in Colombo The temple s architecture demonstrates an eclectic mix of Sri Lankan Thai Indian and Chinese architecture 31 The Viharamahadevi Park formerly Victoria Park is an urban park located next to the National Museum of Colombo and the Town Hall It is the oldest and largest park in Colombo and features a large Buddha statue As part of the Urban Regeneration Program of the Government of Sri Lanka many old sites and buildings were revamped into modern public recreational spaces and shopping precincts These include Independence Memorial Hall Square Pettah Floating Market and Old Dutch Hospital among others Demographics EditEthnicity in Colombo Municipality area 2012 32 Sinhalese 36 9 Sri Lankan Tamil 29 6 Sri Lankan Moor Tamil speaking Muslims 29 0 Indian Tamil 2 2 Others 5 Colombo is a multi religious multi ethnic and multi cultural city The population of Colombo is a mix of numerous ethnic groups mainly Sinhalese Sri Lankan Tamils and Sri Lankan Moor There are also small communities of people with Chinese Portuguese Burgher Dutch Burgher Malay and Indian origins living in the city as well as numerous European expatriates Colombo is the most populous city in Sri Lanka with 642 163 people living within the city limits 33 In 1866 the city had a population of around 80 000 34 Religion in Colombo Municipality area 2012 35 Buddhism 31 4 Islam 31 2 Hinduism 22 6 Christianity Roman Catholic 10 8 Other Christians 3 7 Others 0 1 Government and politics Edit Colombo Municipal Council Local government Edit Colombo is a charter city with a mayor council government 36 The mayor and council members are elected through local government elections held once in five years For the past 50 years the city had been ruled by the United National Party UNP a right leaning party whose business friendly policies resonate with the population of Colombo However the UNP nomination list for the 2006 Municipal elections was rejected 37 and an Independent Group supported by the UNP won the elections 38 Uvais Mohamed Imitiyas was subsequently appointed Mayor of Colombo 39 The city government provides sewer road and waste management services in the case of water electricity and telephone utility services the council liaises with the water supply and drainage board the Ceylon electricity board and telephone service providers National capital status Edit Colombo was the capital of the coastal areas controlled by the Portuguese the Dutch and the British from the 1700s to 1815 when the British gained control of the entire island following the Kandyan convention From then until the 1980s the national capital of the island was Colombo During the 1980s plans were made to move the administrative capital to Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and thus move all governmental institutions out of Colombo to make way for commercial activities As a primary step the Parliament was moved to a new complex in Kotte with several ministries and departments also relocated However the move was never completed Today many governmental institutions still remain in Colombo These include the President s House Presidential Secretariat Prime Minister s House Temple Trees Prime Minister s Office the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka Central Bank of Sri Lanka important government ministries and departments such as Finance Treasury Defence Public Administration amp Home affairs Foreign affairs Justice and the Military headquarters Naval headquarters SLNS Parakrama Air Force headquarters SLAF Colombo and Police national and field force headquarters 40 41 Suburbs and postal codes Edit Aerial sunset view City limits Edit Bambalapitiya area Colombo is divided into 15 numbered areas for the purposes of postal services Within these areas are the suburbs with their corresponding post office Map of Colombo showing its administrative districts Postal number City suburbColombo 1 FortColombo 2 Slave Island Union PlaceColombo 3 KollupitiyaColombo 4 BambalapitiyaColombo 5 Havelock Town Kirulapone Kirulapone North NarahenpitaColombo 6 Wellawatte Pamankada Colombo 7 Cinnamon GardensColombo 8 BorellaColombo 9 DematagodaColombo 10 Maradana PanchikawatteColombo 11 PettahColombo 12 HulftsdorpColombo 13 Kotahena BloemendhalColombo 14 GrandpassColombo 15 Modara Mutwal Mattakkuliya MadampitiyaOuter suburbs Edit Nawala Rajagiriya Angoda Athurugiriya Battaramulla Biyagama Boralesgamuwa Dehiwala Kadawatha Kelaniya Kaduwela Kalubowila Kandana Kesbewa Kiribathgoda Kolonnawa Koswatte Kotikawatta Kottawa Gothatuwa Hokandara Homagama Ja Ela Maharagama Malabe Moratuwa Mount Lavinia Pannipitiya Pelawatte Peliyagoda Piliyandala Ragama Ratmalana Thalawathugoda WattalaEconomy Edit Colombo City is the hub of Sri Lanka s economic activity The great majority of Sri Lankan corporations have their head offices in Colombo including Aitken Spence Ceylinco Corporation Stassen group of companies John Keells Holdings Cargills Hemas Holdings and Akbar Brothers Some of the industries include chemicals textiles glass cement leather goods furniture and jewellery In the city centre is the World Trade Centre The 40 story Twin Tower complex is the centre of important commercial establishments in the Fort district the city s nerve centre Right outside the Fort area is Pettah which is derived from the Sinhala word pita which means out or outside 42 Arcade Independence Square shopping mall The Colombo Metropolitan area has a GDP PPP of 122 billion or 40 of the GDP making it the most important aspect of the Sri Lankan economy citation needed The per capita income of the Colombo Metro area stood at US 8623 and purchasing power per capita of 25 117 making it one of the most prosperous regions in South Asia 43 The Colombo Metropolitan CM area is the most important industrial commercial and administrative centre in Sri Lanka A major share of the country s export oriented manufacturing takes place in the CM area which is the engine of growth for Sri Lanka Galle Face Green where many major events take place is a favourite location for many It is in close proximity to many of the major hotels Formerly it was the site of the city s racecourse golf course and the cricket fieldThe Western province contributes less than 40 to the GDP and about 80 of industrial value additions although it accounts for only 5 7 of the country s geographic area and 25 of the national population Given its importance as the primary international gateway for Sri Lanka and as the main economic driver of the country the government of Sri Lanka GoSL has launched an ambitious program to transform Colombo and its area into a metropolis of international standards Bottlenecks are preventing the Colombo metropolitan area from realizing its full economic potential To facilitate the transformation of Colombo the government has to address these bottlenecks which have for long been obstructing economic and physical urban regeneration 44 Pettah is more crowded than the Fort area Pettah s roads are always packed and pavements are full of small stalls selling items from delicious sharbat to shirts Main Street consists mostly of clothes shops and the crossroads which are known as Cross Streets where each of the five streets specialises in a specific business For example First Cross Street is mostly electronic goods shops the Second cellular phones and fancy goods Most of these businesses are dominated by Muslim traders At the end of Main Street further away from Fort is Sea Street Sri Lanka s gold market dominated by Tamil interests This mile long street is full of jewellery shops 42 including the former head office of SriLankan Airlines 45 Law enforcement and crime Edit The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka is located in Colombo The Sri Lanka Police the main law enforcement agency of the island liaise with the municipal council but is under the control of the Ministry of Defence of the central government 46 Policing in Colombo and its suburbs falls within the Metropolitan Range headed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police Metropolitan this also includes the Colombo Crime Division 47 As with most Sri Lankan cities the magistrate court handles felony crimes the district court handles civil cases As in other large cities around the world Colombo experiences certain levels of street crime and bribery Indeed the corruption extends to the very top US reports show In addition in the period from the 1980s to 2009 there have been a number of major terrorist attacks 48 49 The LTTE has been linked to most of the bombings and assassinations in the city 50 Welikada Prison is situated in Colombo and it is one of the largest maximum security prisons in the country 51 Infrastructure Edit Colombo s streets at night Colombo has most of the amenities that a modern city has Compared to other parts of the country Colombo has the highest degree of infrastructure Electricity water and transport to street lights and phone booths are to a considerably good standard The majority of the major shopping malls in Sri Lanka are in the city of which all are Wi Fi enabled Apart from that many luxurious hotels clubs and restaurants are in the city In recent times there has been an outpour of high rise condominiums mainly due to the very high land prices 52 Harbour Edit Container handling at Colombo Port Colombo Harbour is the largest and one of the busiest ports in Sri Lanka Colombo was established primarily as a port city during the colonial era with an artificial harbour that has been expanded over the years The Sri Lanka Navy maintains a naval base SLNS Rangalla within the harbour The Port of Colombo handled 3 75 million twenty foot equivalent units in 2008 10 6 up on 2007 which itself was 9 7 up on 2006 bucking the global economic trend Of those 817 000 were local shipments with the rest transshipments With a capacity of 5 7 million TEUs and a dredged depth of over 15 m 49 ft the Colombo Harbour is one of the busiest ports in the world and ranks among the top 25 ports 23rd Colombo is part of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road that runs from the Chinese coast to the Upper Adriatic region with its rail connections to Central and Eastern Europe 53 54 55 56 57 Transport Edit Bus Edit Colombo has an extensive public transport system based on buses operated both by private operators and the government owned Sri Lanka Transport Board SLTB The three primary bus terminals Bastian Mawatha Central and the Gunasinghapura Bus Terminals are in Pettah 58 Bastian Mawatha handles long distance services whereas Gunasinghapura and Central handle local services Rail Edit Commuter rail within the city Main article Sri Lanka Railways Train transport in the city is limited since most trains are meant for transport to and from the city rather than within it and are often overcrowded However the Central Bus Stand and Fort Railway Station function as the island s primary hub for bus and rail transport respectively Up until the 1970s the city had tram services which were discontinued Other means of transport include auto rickshaws commonly called three wheelers and taxicabs Three wheelers are entirely operated by individuals and hardly regulated whilst cab services are run by private companies and are metered Main Line Colombo Fort to Veyangoda onwards to Kandy Badulla Matale Kurunegala Anuradhapura Jaffna Kankesanturai Trincomalee Batticaloa Talaimannar presently just Madhu Road Coastal Line Colombo to Panadura onwards to Galle Matara and Beliaththa Puttalam Line Colombo to Ja Ela onwards to Negombo and Puttalam Kelani Valley Line Colombo to Avissawella Roads Edit Post war development in the Colombo area also involves the construction of numerous expressway grade arterial road routes The first of these constructed is the Southern Expressway which goes from Kottawa a southern suburb of Colombo to Matara City in the south of the country Expressways constructed in the Colombo metropolitan area include the Colombo Katunayake Expressway which was opened in October 2013 and the Colombo orbital bypass Outer Circular Highway Arthur C Clarke Expressway The Colombo Katunayake Expressway E03 runs from Peliyagoda a northern suburb of Colombo to Colombo International Airport and it is linked with one of the major commercial hubs and a major tourist destination of the country the city of Negombo 59 60 A1 highway connects Colombo with Kandy A2 highway connects Colombo with Galle and Matara A3 highway connects Colombo with Negombo and Puttalam A4 highway connects Colombo with Ratnapura and BatticaloaFerry Edit An international ferry liner the Scotia Prince is conducting a ferry service to Tuticorin India Ferry services between the two countries have been revived after more than 20 years 61 Air Edit Ratmalana Airport Ratmalana Airport is the city s airport located 15 km 9 3 mi south of the city centre It commenced operating in 1935 and was the country s first international airport until it was replaced by Bandaranaike Airport in 1967 Ratmalana Airport now primarily services domestic flights aviation training and international corporate flights Landmarks Edit Colombo Skyline 2017 The two World Trade Centre towers used to be the most recognised landmarks of the city Before they were completed in 1997 the adjacent Bank of Ceylon tower was the tallest structure and the most prominent city landmark Before the skyscrapers were built the Old Parliament Building that stood in the Fort district with the Old Colombo Lighthouse close to it used to be the tallest building Another important landmark is the Independence Hall at Independence Square in Cinnamon Gardens Even before the parliament was built some claim that the Jami Ul Alfar Mosque was recognised as the landmark of Colombo by sailors approaching the port The mosque is still one of the most visited tourist sites in Colombo citation needed Another landmark is St Paul s Church Milagiriya one of the oldest churches in Sri Lanka first built by the Portuguese and rebuilt by the British in 1848 The Cargills amp Millers building in Fort is also a protected building of historical significance The Galle Face Green is the city s largest promenade Lined with coconut trees and adjacent to the coast The Green frequently hosts international and local concerts and performances such as the World Drum Festival citation needed Cannons that were once mounted on the rampart of the old fort of Colombo were laid out for observance and prestige at the Green The colonial styled Galle Face Hotel known as Asia s Emerald on the Green since 1864 is adjacent to Galle Face Green The hotel has played host to guests such as the British Royal Family and other royal guests and celebrities After a stay at the hotel Princess Alexandra of Denmark commented that the peacefulness and generosity encountered at the Galle Face Hotel cannot be matched 62 Also facing Galle Face Green is the Ceylon Inter Continental Hotel Education Edit Royal College Colombo the oldest public school in the city Education institutions in Colombo have a long history Colombo has many of the prominent public schools in the country some of them government owned and others private Most of the prominent schools in the city date back to the 1800s when they were established during the British colonial rule 63 such as the Royal College Colombo established in 1835 Certain urban schools of Sri Lanka have some religious alignment this is partly due to the influence of the British who established Christian missionary schools 64 65 These include the Anglican Bishop s College 1875 the Methodist Wesley College Colombo 1874 the Buddhist Ananda College 1886 the Muslim Zahira College 1892 the St Benedict s College Colombo 1985 the Catholic St Joseph s College 1896 The religious alignments do not affect the curriculum of the school except for the demographics of the student population 64 Colombo has many International Schools that have come up in recent years Higher education in the city has a long history beginning with the establishment of the Colombo Medical School 1870 the Colombo Law College 1875 the School of Agriculture 1884 and the Government Technical College 1893 The first step in the creation of a university in Colombo was taken in 1913 with the establishment of the University College Colombo which prepared students for the external examinations of the University of London This was followed by the establishment of the University of Ceylon in Colombo 66 Today the University of Colombo and the University of the Visual amp Performing Arts are state universities in the city The Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology has a metropolitan campus in the city centre There are several private higher education institutions in the city See also Education in Sri LankaArchitecture Edit The Red Mosque Colombo has widely varying architecture that spans centuries and depicts many styles Colonial buildings influenced by the Portuguese Dutch and British exist alongside structures built in Buddhist Hindu Islamic Indian and Contemporary architectural styles No other place is this more evident than in the Fort area Here one may find new towering skyscrapers as well as historic buildings dating far back as the 1700s 67 68 Colombo Fort Edit The Portuguese were the first colonists to settle in Colombo Establishing a small trading post they had laid the foundations for a small fort which in time became the largest colonial fort on the island The Dutch expanded the fort thus creating a well old fortified harbour This came into the possession of the British in the late 1700s and by the late 19th century seeing no threat to the Colombo Harbour began demolishing the ramparts to make way for the development of the city Although now there is nothing left of the fortifications the area which was once the fort is still referred to as Fort The area outside is Pettah Sri Lanka or ප ටක ට ව Pitakotuwa in Sinhala which means outer fort 67 68 The VOC Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie logo of Dutch East India Company on the gates of Wolvendaal Church Dutch era buildings Edit There are none of the buildings of the Portuguese era and only a few from the Dutch period These include the oldest building in the fort area the former Dutch Hospital the Dutch House which is now the Colombo Dutch Museum and several churches The President s House formerly the Queen s House was originally the Dutch governor s house and successive British governors made it their office and residence However it has undergone much change since the Dutch period Adjoining the President s House are the Gordon Gardens now off limits to the public 67 68 69 British era buildings Edit Much of the old buildings of the fort area and in other parts of the city date back to British times these include governmental commercial buildings and private houses Some of the notable government building of British colonial architecture includes the old Parliament building which is now the Presidential Secretariat the Republic Building which houses the Ministry of Foreign affairs but once housed the Ceylon Legislative council the General Treasury Building the old General Post Office an Edwardian style building opposite the President s House the Prime Minister s Office the Central Telegraph Office and the Mathematics department of the University of Colombo formally the Royal College Colombo 66 Notable commercial buildings of the British era include the Galle Face Hotel Cargills and Millers complex and the Grand Oriental Hotel 67 68 The historical Cargills amp Millers building continues as the headquarters of Cargills The Old Parliament Building near the Galle Face Green now the Presidential Secretariat The Neoclassical style Colombo National MuseumCulture EditAnnual cultural events and fairs Edit Vesak Thorana in Colombo Christmas Celebrations in Colombo Colombo s most popular festival is the celebration of Buddha s birth enlightenment and death all falling on the same day 70 In Sinhala this is known as Vesak 70 During this festival much of the city is decorated with lanterns lights and special displays of light known as thoran The festival falls in mid May and lasts a week Many Sri Lankans visit the city to see the lantern competitions and decorations During this week people distribute rice drinks and other food items for free in dunsal which means charity place These dunsal are popular amongst visitors from the suburbs Since there is a large number of Muslims in Colombo Eid Ul Fitr and Eid Ul Adha are two Islamic festivals that are celebrated in Colombo Many businesses flourish during the eventual countdown for Eid Ul Fitr which is a major Islamic festival celebrated by Muslims after a month long fasting Colombo is generally very busy on the eve of the festivals as people do their last minute shopping Christmas is another major festival Although Sri Lanka s Christians make up only just over 7 of the population Christmas is one of the island s biggest festivals Most streets and commercial buildings light up from the beginning of December and festive sales begin at all shopping centres and department stores Caroling and nativity plays are frequent sights during the season The Sinhalese and Hindu Aluth Awurudda is a cultural event that takes place on 13 and 14 April This is the celebration of the Sinhalese and Hindu new year The festivities include many events and traditions that display a great deal of Sri Lankan culture Several old clubs of the city give a glimpse of the British equestrian lifestyle these include the Colombo Club Orient Club the 80 Club and the Colombo Cricket Club Performing arts Edit The Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre is a major venue for the performing arts Colombo has several performing arts centres which are popular for their musical and theatrical performances including the Lionel Wendt Theatre the Elphinstone and Tower Hall all of which were made for western style productions The Navarangahala found in the city is the country s first national theatre designed and built for Asian and local style musical and theatrical productions The Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre is a world class theatre that opened in December 2011 71 Designed in the form of the Lotus Pond in Polonnaruwa 72 better source needed the theatre is a major theatre destination Museums and art collections Edit The National Museum of Colombo established on 1 January 1877 during the tenure of the British Colonial Governor Sir William Henry Gregory is in the Cinnamon Gardens area 73 The museum houses the crown jewels and throne of the last king of the kingdom of Kandy Sri Vikrama Rajasinha 74 There is also the Colombo Dutch Museum detailing the Dutch colonial history of the country Colombo does not boast a very big art gallery There is a small collection of random Sri Lankan paintings at the Art Gallery in Green Path next to it is the Natural History Museum Sports Edit Colombo Racecourse ground One of the most popular sports in Sri Lanka is cricket The country emerged as champions of the 1996 Cricket World Cup and became runners up in 2007 and 2011 In the ICC World Twenty20 they became runners up in 2009 and 2012 and winners in 2014 The sport is played in parks playgrounds beaches and even in the streets Colombo is the home for two of the country s most popular international cricket stadiums Singhalese Sports Club s Cricket Stadium and R Premadasa Stadium named after late president Premadasa Colombo Stars represents the city in Lanka Premier League Colombo has the distinction of being the only city in the world to have four cricket test venues in the past Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Stadium Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground Colombo Cricket Club Ground and Ranasinghe Premadasa Stadium The Sugathadasa Stadium is an international standard stadium for athletics swimming and football also held the South Asian Games in 1991 and 2006 Situated in Colombo the Royal Colombo Golf Club is one of the oldest in Asia Other sporting clubs in Colombo include Colombo Swimming Club Colombo Rowing Club and the Yachting Association of Sri Lanka Rugby is also a popular sport at the club and school levels Colombo has its local football team Colombo FC and the sport is being developed as a part of the FIFA Goal program The Colombo Port City is to include a new Formula One track constructed in the vicinity of the Colombo Harbour According to Dr Priyath Wickrama the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority an eight lane F1 track will definitely be a part of the New Port City This would host the Sri Lankan Grand Prix Colombo Marathon is an internationally recognised marathon established in 1998 Media Edit Almost all major media businesses in Sri Lanka operate from Colombo The state media has its offices in Bullers Road and carries out regional transmissions from there These include the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation SLBC formerly known as Radio Ceylon and the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation The SLBC is the oldest radio station in South Asia and the second oldest in the world Many private broadcasting companies have their offices and transmission stations in or around Colombo As with most metro areas radio bands are highly utilised for radio communications Some of the prominent radio stations broadcasting in the Colombo area are Sirasa FM FM Derana Hiru FM Shakthi FM Vettri FM Sooriyan FM Kiss FM Lite FM Yes FM Gold FM Sith FM Y FM and many more Television networks operating in the Colombo metro area include the state owned television broadcasting networks which are broadcast by the Rupavahini Corporation of Sri Lanka broadcasting television in the official languages Sinhala and Tamil English language television is also broadcast more targeted to the demographics of the English speaking Sri Lankans expatriate communities and tourists There are as well several private operators Many of the privately run television station networks were often based upon operational expansions of pre existing commercial radio networks and broadcast infrastructure See also Television in Sri LankaTwin towns and sister cities EditCountry City State Region SinceNepal Biratnagar Morang District 1874Russia Saint Petersburg N A 1997China Shanghai N A 2003United Kingdom Leeds West Yorkshire 2008Mongolia Ulan Bator 2012Maldives Male Kaafu Atoll 2013Maldives Maroshi Shaviyani Atoll 2015Notable people EditSee Category People from ColomboGallery Edit Colombo s colonial heritage is visible throughout the city as in the historical Wolvendaal Church established by the Dutch in 1749 The Nelum Pokuna Theatre at night British era Legislative Council Building Colombo fort Today it houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Town Hall of Colombo at night it is the headquarters of the Colombo Municipal Council and the office of the Mayor of Colombo The Edwardian style old General Post Office A Test match between Sri Lanka and England at the SSC Cricket Ground Colombo March 2001 St Lucia s Cathedral the seat of the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Colombo Beira Lake and southern side of the Gangaramaya Temple The Jami Ul Alfar Mosque is one of the oldest Mosques in Colombo Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Colombo The statue of Sir Charles Henry de Soysa at De Soysa Liptons Circus is the first of a native in Colombo 75 The Viharamahadevi Park formerly Victoria Park is the oldest and largest park in Colombo Built in 1857 the Old Colombo Lighthouse also known as the Colombo Fort Clock Tower is the oldest clock tower The BMICH Conference Hall A clear view of the ocean off Colombo over a green field of grassSee also EditColombo Town Guard List of Mayors of Colombo List of tallest buildings and structures in Sri Lanka National War Memorial Colombo Place names in Sri Lanka South Asian capitalsReferences Edit a b A6 Population by ethnicity and district according to Divisional Secretary s Division 2012 Census of Population amp Housing 2011 Department of Census amp Statistics Sri Lanka Archived from the original on 1 November 2016 Retrieved 12 April 2014 Colombo Collins English Dictionary 13th ed HarperCollins 2018 ISBN 978 0 008 28437 4 History of Parliament of Sri Lanka Colombo is the Commercial Capital now Official Sri Lanka government website Archived from the original on 20 December 2014 Retrieved 7 January 2015 Kumarage A Amal 1 November 2007 Impacts of Transportation Infrastructure and Services on Urban Poverty and Land Development in Colombo Sri Lanka PDF Global Urban Development Volume 3 Issue 1 Archived from the original PDF on 4 March 2016 Retrieved 8 March 2015 The 10 Traits of Globally Fluent Metro Areas PDF 2013 Brookings Institution Archived from the original PDF on 2 April 2015 Retrieved 17 March 2015 Colombo The Heartbeat of Sri Lanka Metro Colombo Urban Development Project The World Bank 21 March 2013 Archived from the original on 12 April 2015 Retrieved 17 March 2015 Turning Sri Lanka s Urban Vision into Policy and Action PDF UN Habitat p 7 Archived from the original PDF on 4 March 2016 Colombo The Famous Business Hub of Sri Lanka Stories amp Advice Archived from the original on 20 December 2018 Retrieved 20 December 2018 Jayewarden How Colombo Derived its Name Archived from the original on 5 December 2008 Retrieved 18 January 2007 a b c d History of Colombo Archived from the original on 2 December 2011 Retrieved 21 March 2007 a b World Executive Colombo Hotels and City Guide Archived 2016 03 02 at the Wayback Machine Colombo then and now Padma Edirisinghe The Sunday Observer 14 February 2004 Archived from the original on 30 September 2007 Indrapala Karthigesu 2007 The evolution of an ethnic identity The Tamils in Sri Lanka C 300 BCE to C 1200 CE Colombo Vijitha Yapa p 70 ISBN 978 955 1266 72 1 Gair James 1998 Studies in South Asian Linguistics New York Oxford University Press p 5 ISBN 978 0 19 509521 0 John Still 1996 Index to the Mahawansa Together with Chronological Table of Wars and Genealogical Trees AES p 85 ISBN 978 81 206 1203 7 Prof Manawadu Samitha Cultural Routes of Sri Lanka As Extensions of International Itineraries Identification of Their Impacts on Tangible amp Intangible Heritage PDF p 3 Archived from the original PDF on 21 March 2016 Retrieved 17 January 2007 a b c d European Encroachment and Dominance The Portuguese Sri Lanka A Country Study Archived from the original on 5 October 2006 Retrieved 2 December 2006 Ross Russell R Savada Andrea Matles 1990 Sri Lanka A Country Study Defence Dept Army p 360 ISBN 978 0 16 024055 3 a b European Encroachment and Dominance The Dutch Sri Lanka A Country study Archived from the original on 5 October 2006 Retrieved 2 December 2006 a b Ross Russell R Savada Andrea Matles 1990 Sri Lanka A Country Study Defense Dept Army p 360 ISBN 978 0 16 024055 3 European Encroachment and Dominance The British Replace the Dutch Sri Lanka A Country study Archived from the original on 5 October 2006 Retrieved 2 December 2006 a b c Adrian Wijemanne 1996 War and Peace in Post Colonial Ceylon 1948 1991 Orient Longman p 111 ISBN 978 81 250 0364 9 Administrative Districts of the Colombo Municipal Council Colombo Municipal Council Archived from the original on 6 January 2013 Retrieved 11 February 2013 circular reference GoAbroad com Embassies located in Sri Lanka Archived 2016 03 02 at the Wayback Machine a b The lake in the middle of Colombo Archived 2007 10 19 at the Wayback Machine Lanka Library 35th boat race and 31st Regatta Oarsmen of Royal and S Thomas clash on Beira waters Archived 2014 02 19 at the Wayback Machine Daily News October 10 2003 Colombo weather Archived from the original on 5 October 2009 Retrieved 2 December 2006 a b World Weather Information Service Colombo World Meteorological Organization Archived from the original on 18 February 2017 Retrieved 19 November 2016 Colombo Climate Normals 1961 1990 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved 19 November 2016 Klimatafel von Colombo Kolamba Sri Lanka Ceylon PDF Baseline climate means 1961 1990 from stations all over the world in German Deutscher Wetterdienst Archived from the original PDF on 16 April 2019 Retrieved 19 November 2016 Gangaramaya Temple John Keells Hotels Group Archived from the original on 10 May 2012 Retrieved 30 April 2012 Department of Census and Statistics Sri Lanka Population by ethnicity and district according to Divisional Secretary s Division 2012 Archived from the original on 1 November 2016 Retrieved 12 April 2014 Department of Census and Statistics Archived from the original on 10 June 2007 Retrieved 22 November 2016 Additional source The case of Colombo Sri Lanka PDF Archived from the original on 26 December 2016 Retrieved 22 November 2016 The totals are calculated through enumerations made from Colombo Divisional Secretariat and the Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat which is also part of Colombo Municipal Council a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link Port of Colombo Archived 2011 07 18 at the Wayback Machine World Port Source Department of Census and Statistics Sri Lanka Population by divisional secretariat division religion and sex 2012 Archived from the original on 1 November 2016 Retrieved 12 April 2014 Colombo Municipal Council Archived from the original on 13 April 2018 Retrieved 13 April 2018 Colombo UNP list rejected Archived 2015 10 16 at the Wayback Machine BBC News February 16 2006 Independent group wins CMC Archived 2015 10 16 at the Wayback Machine BBC News May 21 2006 Rotational mayors as Colombo gets trishaw driver as her first citizen Archived 2007 07 16 at the Wayback Machine Sunday Times May 28 2006 The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka Justice Ministry Archived from the original on 18 November 2011 Retrieved 22 November 2016 Ministries of Sri Lanka Government Government of Sri Lanka Archived from the original on 9 March 2007 Retrieved 22 November 2016 a b Colombo Economy Archived from the original on 24 October 2013 Retrieved 29 December 2012 Press release 20010712 PDF CBSL 10 July 2011 Archived from the original PDF on 22 July 2011 Retrieved 2 April 2013 Executive Summary The Colombo Metropolitan CM area PDF Ministry of Defence amp Urban Development Archived from the original PDF on 10 August 2012 Retrieved 29 December 2012 World Airline Directory Also ranked of the best land in the world of WWNEconomy Flight International 14 20 March 1990 Airlift International 57 Archived 2011 08 09 at the Wayback Machine Organizational Structure Archived 2007 08 27 at the Wayback Machine Ministry of Defence Sri Lanka The drama behind the arrest of Sepala Eknayake by Edward Gunawardena Retd Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Archived 2011 01 20 at the Wayback Machine Island lk Archived copy Archived from the original on 3 October 2001 Retrieved 3 October 2001 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Travel Warning United States Department of State Archived from the original on 22 September 2006 Retrieved 22 November 2016 Jane s Sentinel examines the success of the LTTE in resisting the Sri Lankan forces Archived April 15 2009 at the Wayback Machine circular reference President orders SB s release Archived October 22 2007 at the Wayback Machine LankaNewspapers com February 16 2006 Colombo lanka houses com Archived from the original on 4 January 2013 Retrieved 29 December 2012 In Sri Lanka the new Chinese Silk Road is a disappointment China Silk Road Project in Sri Lanka Delayed as Beijing Toughens Stance Wolf D Hartmann Wolfgang Maennig Run Wang Chinas neue Seidenstrasse 2017 Jean Marc F Blanchard China s Maritime Silk Road Initiative and South Asia 2018 pp 55 Sri Lanka key component in 21st Century Maritime Silk Road China Hasintha Weragala Things to do in Sri Lanka 27 November 2018 Guide map of bus terminals in Colombo thingstodoinsrilanla lk Archived from the original on 4 December 2018 Retrieved 27 November 2018 A Speedy and safe journey to Galle Dailynews lk 16 August 2011 Archived from the original on 30 October 2013 Retrieved 1 January 2013 Gamini Gunaratna Sri Lanka News Paper by LankaPage com LLC 7 November 2011 Nearly half of the work completed on outer circular highway around Sri Lankan capital Colombopage com Archived from the original on 3 September 2013 Retrieved 1 January 2013 Tuticorin Colombo ferry sets sail Archived 2016 10 03 at the Wayback Machine Times of India 2011 06 14 Princess Alexandra s Visit Archived from the original on 13 April 2007 Retrieved 22 November 2016 Historical Overview of Education in Sri Lanka The British Period 1796 1948 Archived from the original on 11 April 2011 Retrieved 22 November 2016 a b Harsha Aturupane Paul Glewwe Wisniewski Suzanne July 2007 The Impact of School Quality Socio Economic Factors and Child Health on Students Academic Performance Evidence from Sri Lankan Primary Schools PDF Colombo World Bank Archived PDF from the original on 10 September 2008 Retrieved 27 July 2007 Harsha Aturupane Paul Glewwe Wisniewski Suzanne February 2005 Treasures of the Education System in Sri Lanka Restoring Performance Expanding Opportunities and Enhancing Prospects PDF World Bank Report Colombo World Bank ISBN 978 955 8908 14 3 Archived PDF from the original on 10 September 2008 Retrieved 27 July 2007 a b History of the University of Colombo Archived from the original on 14 October 2008 Retrieved 22 November 2016 a b c d Colombo Fort Archived 2015 12 22 at the Wayback Machine Kermeey blogspot com 2006 02 19 Retrieved on 2011 10 17 a b c d Tintagel Colombo Reddottours com 7 January 2010 Archived from the original on 12 December 2012 Retrieved 1 January 2013 Dutch Colonial Remains Archived 2016 02 21 at the Wayback Machine Colonialvoyage com Retrieved on 2011 10 17 a b Venerable Mahinda Significance of Vesak www buddhanet net Archived from the original on 19 February 2007 Retrieved 19 February 2007 Nelum Pokuna Daily Mirror 15 December 2011 Archived from the original on 7 January 2012 Retrieved 15 December 2011 Prins Stephen A National Treasure Archived from the original on 21 August 2011 Retrieved 17 May 2010 History of Colombo National Museum Archived from the original on 28 September 2007 Retrieved 2 February 2007 History of Colombo National Museum Retrieved 22 November 2016 permanent dead link Ceylon the Land of Eternal Charm Ali Foad Toulba Asian Educational Services p 237 ISBN 9788120614949Further reading EditColombo at Wikipedia s sister projects Definitions from Wiktionary Media from Commons News from Wikinews Quotations from Wikiquote Texts from Wikisource Textbooks from Wikibooks Travel information from Wikivoyage Resources from Wikiversity The following books contain major components on Colombo Changing Face of Colombo 1501 1972 Covering the Portuguese Dutch and British Periods by R L Brohier 1984 Lake House Colombo The Port of Colombo 1860 1939 K Dharmasena 1980 Lake House Colombo Decolonizing Ceylon Colonialism Nationalism and the Politics of Space in Sri Lanka by Nihal Perera 1999 Oxford University Press the Essential guide for Colombo and its region Philippe Fabry Negombo Viator Publications 2011 175 p ISBN 978 955 8736 09 8 The impact of the Tsunami on households and vulnerable groups in two districts in Sri Lanka Galle and Colombo Swarna Jayaweera Centre for Women s Research Colombo 2005 Patterns of Community Structure in Colombo Sri Lanka An investigation of Contemporary Urban Life in South Asia Neville S Arachchige Don University Press Maryland 1994 Colombo Carl Muller Penguin Books New Delhi 1995 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Colombo amp oldid 1133643944, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.