Colombo is the largest city and commercial capital of the Island. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital. Colombo is a busy and vibrant city with a mixture of modern life and colonial buildings. It’s the most populous city in the country with 650,000 residents. Its metropolitan region is defined by the districts of Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara.
Owing to the large harbor situated in Colombo, linking both East & West Sea trade routes, it is also considered the main hub connecting the island with the rest of world. The city is also close to the Islands main International airport which lies 24 kilometers away.
The Colombo city is home to a majority of Sri Lanka's corporate offices, including many Multinationals companies, World renowned Hotel Chains, Restaurants and Entertainment venues. Colombo’s colonial heritage is evident throughout the city and its architecture is very much influenced by the Dutch and British Era.
Famous landmarks in Colombo include the Galle Face Green, the Viharamahadevi Park, the Art Gallery, the Lionel Wendt Theater, the National Museum, the Beira Lake, the Gangarama Temple, the Planetarium, the Town Hall, the old Parliament Building (now Presidential Secretariat), the Independence Square, the Wolvendaal Dutch Church, the World Trade Centre, the Pettah night market, Dehiwala Zoo and the Mount Lavinia Beach are to name but only a few of the city’s main attractions. For entertainment seekers, Colombo offers an array of venues teaming with night life, be it restaurants, lounge bars, pubs, night clubs and casinos.|
One can take the Colombo City tour, a day’s program that takes you to some of the key sites in and around Colombo. Participants are taken in a open top Double-Decker bus which allows one to enjoy the sights and sounds of the busy city.
Places of Interest