(Redirected from Colombo, Sri Lanka)''This article is about the city in Sri Lanka. For other uses, please see
Colombo (disambiguation)''
'Colombo' (
Sinhala:
Colombo sinhala.jpg
,
IPA: ;
Tamil: கொழà¯à®®à¯à®ªà¯) is the largest city and commercial capital of
Sri Lanka. Located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, the administrative capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo is a busy and vibrant city with a mixture of modern life and colonial ruins.
[1] and a city population of over 600,000 people.
The name ''Colombo'', first introduced by the Portuguese in 1505, was derived from the classical
Sinhalese name ''Kolon thota'', meaning "port on the river
Kelani".
[2] It has also been suggested that the name may be derived from the Sinhalese name ''Kola-amba-thota'' which means "harbor with leafy mango trees".
[3]
Due to its large
natural harbour and its strategic position along the
East-West sea
trade routes, Colombo was known to ancient traders since more than 2,000 years ago. However it was only made the capital of the island when Sri Lanka was ceded to the
British Empire in 1815,
[4] and its status as capital was retained when the nation received
independence 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, encompassing other
Municipal and Urban Councils. The main city is home to a majority of the Sri Lanka's corporate offices, restaurants and entertainment venues.
Famous landmarks in Colombo include the
Galle Face Green, the
Viharamahadevi Park as well as the National Museum.
History
As Colombo possesses a natural harbor, it was known to
Romans,
Arabs, and
Chinese traders over 2,000 years ago. Traveler
Ibn Batuta who visited the island in the 14th century, referred to it as ''Kalanpu''.
[5] Arabian
Muslims whose prime interests were trade, began to settle in Colombo around the 8th century CE mostly because the port helped their business and controlled much of the trade between the
Sinhalese kingdoms and the outside world. They now comprise the local
Sri Lankan Moor community.
The Portuguese Era
Portuguese explorers led by Don
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 (1484-1508) enabling them to trade in the islands' crop of cinnamon, which lay along the coastal areas of the island, including in Colombo.
As part of the treaty, the Portuguese were given full authority over the coast line in exchange for the promise of guarding the coast against invaders. They were also allowed to establish a
trading post in Colombo.
Within a short time, however, they then expelled the Muslim inhabitants of Colombo and began to build a
fort there in 1517.
Colombo's colonial heritage is visible throughout the city, as in the historical ''Wolvendhal'' church, established by the Dutch in 1749
The Portuguese soon realized that control of Sri Lanka was necessary for protection of their coastal establishments in India and they began to manipulate the rulers of the Kotte Kingdom in order 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 Sitavaka, a domain in the Kotte kingdom.
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. However, following the fall of the Kingdom in 1593, the Portuguese were able to establish
complete control over the entire coastal area, with Colombo as their capital.
[7][8]
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 ''piá¹a koá¹uva'', "outer fort") and is a commercial hub.
The Dutch Era
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.
They 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 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.
[9][10]
The British era
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
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.
Many historical building are still in use, including the Old Parliament Building, which is now the Presidential Secretariat
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 the January 16, 1866. At the time, the population of the region was around 80,000.
During the time they were in control of the 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.
[11][12]
Post Independence
This era of colonialism ended peacefully in 1948 when Ceylon gained independence from Britain.
[13] 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.
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 clearly visible in Colombo’s architecture, names, clothing, food, language and attitudes. Buildings from all three eras stand in their glory 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.
Colombo is by far more modern than most cities in neighboring countries and continues to be a blossoming metropolis of the East.
Historically, Colombo referred to the area around the ''
Fort'' and ''
Pettah Market'' which is famous 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. 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, it continues to be the island's commercial center. Despite the official capital of Sri Lanka moving to the adjacent Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, most countries still maintain their
diplomatic missions in Colombo.
[14]
Geography and climate
Geography
The
Viharamahadevi Park, shown with its famous Buddha statue and fountains and with the Colombo town hall in view, is an example of the abundance of greenery in Colombo
Colombo's geography is a mix of land. The city has many canals and the Beira Lake in the heart of the city. The Northern and North-Eastern border of the city is formed by the Kelani river, which meets the sea in a part of the city known as the Modera (''mÅdara'' in Sinhala) which means "
Delta".
Climate
Colombo’s climate is fairly temperate all throughout the year. From March to April the temperature averages around 31 degrees Celsius (88
degrees Fahrenheit) maximum.
[15] The only major change in the Colombo weather occurs during the
monsoon seasons from May to August and October to January. This is the time of year where heavy rains can be expected. Colombo sees little relative diurnal range of temperature, although this is more marked in the drier winter months, where minimum temperatures average 22 degrees Celsius (72 degrees Fahrenheit). Rainfall in the city averages around 2,400 mm a year.
[16]
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|
Avg Temp °C
(°F) | 27
(81) | 27
(82) | 28
(83) | 28
(84) | 28
(84) | 28
(83) | 28
(83) | 28
(83) | 28
(83) | 27
(82) | 27
(81) | 27
(81) | 27
(82) |
|---|
| Precipitation cm | 8 | 6 | 11 | 25 | 33 | 19 | 12 | 9 | 15 | 35 | 30 | 15 | 223 |
|---|
Demographics
The ''Seema Malakaya'' Temple in the ''Beira'' Lake in the ''Slave Island'' area, is one of many religious structures in Colombo
Colombo is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural city. The population of Colombo is a mix of
Sinhalese,
Sri Lankan Moors and
Tamils. There are small communities of people with
Chinese,
Portuguese,
Dutch,
Malay and
Indian origins living here. Colombo is the most populated city in Sri Lanka. According to the census of 2001 the demographics of urban Colombo by ethnicity is as follows.
[17]
Government and politics
The Colombo City Town Hall in Cinnamon Gardens houses the mayor's office and most other municipal offices
Colombo is a
charter city, with a
Mayor Council form of government. Colombo's mayor and the 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.
The city government provides sewer, road management and waste management services, in 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.
As with most Sri Lankan cities, the magistrate court and the district court handles felony crimes — the Municipal Council deals with parking tickets, traffic infractions, and misdemeanors. Colombo houses the country's largest jail known as the Magazine Prison. And headquarters of the Police, Army, Navy, Air Force and many other judicial offices including the
Supreme Court are in Colombo. The law enforcement agencies also liaise with the municipal council but are managed by the ministry of interior and
ministry of justice of the central government.
Official Vision and mission
Vision
Mission
Economy
Colombo is the hub of Sri Lanka's economic activity, with many major events taking place around the Galle Face Green
The great majority of Sri Lankan corporations have their head offices in Colombo. Some of the industries include chemicals, textiles, glass, cement, leather goods, furniture, and jewelry. In the city center is located South Asia's second
tallest building - The World Trade Center. The 40 story
Twin Tower complex is the centre of important commercial establishments, situated in the Fort district, the city's nerve center. Right outside the ''Fort'' area is ''Pettah'' which is derived from the Sinhalese word ''pita'' which means ''out'' or ''outside'' as it is outside the ''Fort''.
Pettah is more crowded than the fort area. It's a place you can buy almost anything you want, Pettah's roads are always packed and
pavements are full of small stalls selling from delicious
Sharbat to
Shirts. Main Street comprises mostly of clothes shops and the cross roads, which are literally known as Cross Streets where each of the five Streets specializes in a specific business. For example the first cross street mostly comprises
electronic goods shops, the second
cellular phones and fancy goods. Most of these businesses in Pettah are dominated by Muslim traders. At the end of the main street further away from Fort is the Sea Street, Sri Lanka's Gold market. This mile long street is full of jewelery shops.
The Colombo Metropolitan Region (CMR) encompasses the country's administrative capital Kotte and Colombo. Found within the borders of the CMR is 80% of the country’s industrialization and over 60% of all vehicles plying Sri Lankan roads.
Education
A number of leading educational institutions are located around Colombo, including the main campus of the
SLIIT
Colombo is home to some of the island's top schools and universities. Education in Sri Lanka is free and 13 years of schooling is compulsory for everyone.
Royal College is one of the oldest educational institutions of Sri Lanka with a history of more than 170 years.
Ananda College with the largest Buddhist student population,
Zahira College, with the largest
Muslim student population in Sri Lanka, and
Colombo Hindu College with the largest Hindu student population are also located in Colombo. Most of the schools in the city are managed by the provincial council and the prominent schools with many facilities that fall under the national schools scheme are managed by the central government.
The
University of Colombo, the only state university in the city, has courses in many disciplines such as Arts, Science, Medicine, Law, Management and Computer Science. The university's school of computing is famous for its contributions to the
Apache web server software project. The
Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology also has a metropolitan campus in the center of the city.
Infrastructure
The Jami Ul Alfar mosque in the Pettah area, one of the oldest mosques in Colombo
The historical "Cargills & Millers" building
Colombo has most of the amneties that a modern city has. Majority of the major shopping malls in Sri Lanka are located in the city. And all of them are
wi-fi enabled. In recent times there's been an outpour of
high rise condominiums in the city, mainly due to the very high land prices.
Landmarks
The two World Trade Center towers have become the most recognized landmarks of the city in recent years. Before these towers were completed in 1997, the adjacent
Bank of Ceylon tower was the tallest structure and the most prominent landmark of the city. Before the skyscrapers were built it was the Old Parliament Building that stood majestically in the Fort district.
Even before the parliament was built some claim that the ''Jami Ul Alfar'' mosque was recognized as the landmark of Colombo by
sailors approaching the
port. The
mosque is still one of the most visited tourist sites in Colombo.
The Fort district also has the famous ''Cargills & Millers'' complex that is protected by a special government law from demolition. This is done mainly to preserve the historic beauty of the Fort area.
The Galle Face Green is the city's largest and most elegant
promenade. Lined with
palm trees and adjacent to the coast, this
mile-long stretch in the heart of the city is a constant beehive of activity. The green is especially busy on Fridays and Saturdays. In the evenings it plays host to families and children playing sports and
flying kites, lovers embracing under umbrellas and health enthusiasts taking their daily evening walks. There are numerous small food stalls and a small stretch of beach to get wet. The green was recently given a make over and since then has been even more popular with the local community. The Green also frequently hosts numerous international and local concerts and performances, such as the recently concluded World Drum Festival.
Cannons used during wartime in the
colonial era are still laid out for observance and prestige at the Green, giving a colonial touch to the city. The famous colonial styled
Galle Face Hotel, known as Asia's Emerald on the Green since 1864, is also adjacent to Galle Face Green. The Hotel has played host to distinguished guests including the
British Royal Family and other
Royal Guests and Celebrities. Apparently after having stayed at the hotel,
Princess Alexandra of
Denmark had commented that "the peacefulness and generosity encountered at the Galle Face Hotel cannot be matched".
[18] Around the corner from Galle Face are prominent
coffee bars, chic bars and boutiques.
Public Transportation
Colombo's
public transportation consists of buses, trains,
auto rickshaws (commonly called "three wheelers" in Sri Lanka) and
taxicabs. The bus service is operated both by private and government sectors. Three wheelers are entirely operated by individuals and hardly regulated whilst cab services are run by private companies and are metered. Trains are also largely used and is the cheapest form of transport - although often overcrowded with a limited network.
Construction of the Colombo Metro Rail, a
Mass Rapid Transit railway system, similar to that of other advanced Asian cities has begun to control the excessive traffic in the city. The project is carried out by NEB Rapid an Indian and Singaporean collaboration.
[19]
[20]
Culture
Annual cultural events and fairs
Vesak Lanterns, A type of pooja (offering) known as ''Aloka pooja'' (offering of light). Followed by the buddhists
Colombo's most beautiful festival is the celebration of
Buddha's Birth, Enlightenment and Death all falling on the same day.
[21]In Sinhala this is known as ''
Vesak''.
[21]
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 when many Sri Lankans visit the city to see the lantern competitions and decorations. During this week people distribute, rice, drinks and various other food items for free in places what is known as ''Dunsal'' which means charity place. These ''Dunsals'' are popular amongst visitors from the suburbs.
Christmas is another major festival in the city. 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 also frequent sights during the season.
Performing arts
Colombo has several
performing arts centers which are popular for their musical and theatrical performances. The most famous performing arts centers are the Lionel Wendt Theater, the Elphinstone and the Tower Hall, all of which have a very rich history.
Museums and art collections
The National Museum of Colombo, was established on 1st of January ,1877 during the tenure of the British Colonial Governor Sir William Henry Gregory is situated in Cinnamon Gardens area.
[23]The museum houses the jewelery and throne of the last king of the country, ''Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe''.
[24] He was captured and executed by the English in 1815. Colombo does not boast a very big art gallery. There is only a small collection of Sri Lankan masterpieces at the Art Gallery in Green Path.
Sports
Undoubtedly the most popular sport in Sri Lanka is
cricket. The country emerged as champions of the 1996
Cricket World Cup and became runners up in 2007. The sport is played in parks, playgrounds, beaches and even in the streets of the city. Colombo is also the home for two of the country's
international cricket stadiums,
Sinhalese Sports Club's
cricket stadium and
R Premadasa Stadium (named after late president
Premadasa).
Rugby is also a popular sport at the club and school level. Colombo has the distinction of being the only city in the world to have 4 cricket Test venues in the past:
P. Saravanamuttu Stadium,
Sinhalese Sports Club Ground,
Colombo Cricket Club Ground and
Ranasinghe Premadasa Stadium.
Media
Almost all major media businesses in Sri Lanka operate from Colombo. The state media has its offices in Bullers Road. The
Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, formerly known as
Radio Ceylon, is also situated in Colombo. The SLBC is the oldest radio station in
South Asia.
Fashion
The city is a popular fashion center in
South East Asia today. The industry has evolved to meet modern standards and conducts regular shows to showcase local talent.
[25]
Tourism
Gallery Island
The Beira Lake
Along, with the city's ample sources of fashion, Colombo has a number of tourist sights and other places of interest, which span quite a few centuries and three sets of foreign rulers- the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British. Some of these, like the Fort area are not really monuments.
Others are the monuments, buildings and gardens – sights that are a part of the city. These include:
★ Wolvendaal Church, Colombo’s oldest Dutch church, still in use. Its floor tiles are made from tombstones from the Dutch church in the Fort, and were brought here in 1813.
★ The Sapumal Foundation, with a permanent exhibition of Sri Lankan art over the past 8 decades.
★ The Dutch Period Museum (formerly a town hall, a hospital, an orphanage, a police station, a post office, and a residence, but now an interesting reminder of colonial times).
★ The National Museum has an interesting and large collection of antique porcelain, manuscripts, royal regalia, antique furniture, masks and other pieces.
★ The Viharamahadevi Park (which is next to the National Museum, the National Art Gallery and the Natural History Museum), Colombo’s largest park. Well known for its flowering trees, water channels and fountains, the park is overlooked at one end by the pristine white-domed Town Hall.
★ Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, an important Buddhist temple. This temple is believed to be at the spot where the Buddha preached 2000 years ago. It has an excellent carving of a reclining Buddha, and is the site for an annual perahera (religious procession) in January.
★ Dehiwala Zoo, which has a good collection of animals and is at a distance of 10 km from Fort. It has an impressive aquarium and aviary, and is invariably a hit with younger members of families.
★ Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque at Second Cross Street, in the Pettah Bazaar area, is one of the most striking buildings in Colombo. Completed in 1909, the Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque is striped red and white like a layer cake and is popular among tourist destinations in Colombo.
Notes & References
1. How Colombo Derived its Name
2. Colombo - then and now
3. ''World Executive'' Colombo Hotels and City Guide
4. History of Colombo
5. Index to the Mahawansa:Together with Chronological Table of Wars and Genealogical Trees, , Still, John, AES, , ISBN 81-206-1203-5
6. Cultural Routes Of Sri Lanka As Extensions Of International Itineraries : Identification Of Their Impacts On Tangible & Intangible Heritage pp 3
7.
European Encroachment and Dominance:The Portuguese
8.
Sri Lanka: A Country Study, , Russell R., Ross,, Defense Dept., Army, ,
9. European Encroachment and Dominance:The Dutch
10.
Sri Lanka: A Country Study, , Russell R., Ross,, Defense Dept., Army, ,
11.
Sri Lanka: A Country Study, , Russell R., Ross,, Defense Dept., Army, ,
12. European Encroachment and Dominance:The British Replace the Dutch
13.
War and Peace in Post-Colonial Ceylon 1948-1991, , Wijemanne, Adrian, Orient Longman, ,
14. ''GoAbroad.com'', Embassies located in Sri Lanka
15. Colombo weather
16. Weatherbase
17. Census 2001, Additional source http://www.ucl.ac.uk/dpu-projects/Global_Report/pdfs/Columbo.pdf. The totals are calculated through enumerations made from Colombo DS and Thimbirigasyaya DS, also part of Colombo Municipal Council
18. Princess Alexandra's Visit
19. Light Rail
20. Light Rail Study Group
21.
Significance of Vesak
22.
Significance of Vesak
23. History of Colombo National Museum
24. History of Colombo National Museum
25.
Fashion in Sri Lanka
See also
★
Sri Lanka
★
University of Colombo
★
Colombo Stock Exchange
★
Place names in Sri Lanka
★
Fashion Industry of Sri Lanka
★
Colombo Town Guard
External links
★
Ministry of Defense : Sri Lanka
★
How Did Colombo Derive its name ?
★
CIA Fact Book
★
All cities in Sri Lanka
★
Lists traditional names of cities in the North and the East
★
Colombo Municipal Council: ''History of the City''
★
Emporis World's Tallest Sky Scrapers
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