Colombo

INTRO
Noisy, frenetic and even a little crazy, Colombo is where the hustle and bustle of Sri Lanka takes place. The city is the commercial heart and the administrative capital of the country. Squalor, pungent smells and tastes and some of the tallest buildings in Asia are uniquely combined - a mixture of modern life and colonial ruins. People who visit Colombo for the first time will be amazed how local people react to the horrendous traffic, the breakdowns and power cuts in the city - only with a smile and a shrug. Currently, there is an insurgency problem going on in Sri Lanka. Colombo might not be as dangerous as a lot of people claim, but you'd better be very cautious while in the city.

City Profile
City: Colombo
Country: Sri Lanka
Area: 37,31 km2
Population: 642, 143
Districts: 6
Mayor: Uvaiz Mohammad Imitiyaz
Language: Sinhalese, Tamil

LOCATION
The city of Colombo is situated on the southern part of the west coast of Sri Lanka.The east and the south-east areas of Colombo are bordered by marshy land, and the north and the south parts of the city are quite hilly. Kelani River forms the northern and the north-eastern borders of Colombo, and then meets the sea in a part of the city known as Modera (which means Delta). Colombo is cut through by many canals, in the heart of the city is Beira Lake.

TIME TO VISIT
A lot of foreign tourists go to Sri Lanka and Colombo, majority of them - Europeans that want to escape from the cold winter in their countries. Climatically, that is the best time to visit the west coast of Sri Lanka - temperatures are mild, and it hardly ever rains. The Celebration of Buddha's Birth, Enlightenment and Death (all at the same day) is the most beautiful festival in Colombo. It falls in mid May, and lasts a week in which much of the city is decorated with lights, lanterns and special displays of light known as Thoran. Although Christians in Sri Lanka are less than 7% of the population, Christmas is another major event in Colombo. From the beginning of December streets and commercial buildings light up, and all department stores and shopping malls have festive sales.

POPULATION
The majority of the inhabitants of Colombo are Sinhalese, Moors and Tamils. There are small communities of Chinese, Portuguese, Malay, Indian and Dutch. Colombo is a multi-cultural city, where Sinhalese and Tamil are the official languages. English is spoken by a small part of the people. Buddhism is the main religion in Colombo - almost 70% of the inhabitants are Buddhists, Christians are less than 7%, Muslims are around 8%, and Hindu - a little less than 7%.

DISTRICTS
The city of Colombo is divided into 6 administrative districts - wards. Although, if a first-time visitor wants to get some orientation where to go and what to do while staying in Colombo, some major areas could be distinguished.

Fort District - located north of the centre, it is the business centre of Sri Lanka. The oldest districts in Colombo which are north of Beira Lake and close to the harbour are known as the Fort and the Pettah (name is derived from the Tamil word pettai, meaning "town outside the fort"). Although it belongs more to the past, the Fort itself is still a focal point of commercial activity.
Pettah Bazaar District - east of the Fort, this is Colombo's major market district. Unlike Fort, which houses grand colonial buildings and glittery high-rise structures, Pettah is a completely different kettle of fish. The bazaar district is colourful, loud and crowded, and pedestrians make their way in the narrow cobbled streets, hurrying past wooden cards and coolies.
Residential areas - outside the city centre are the areas inhabited by the locals. Most of them are filthy and muddy, roads are really bad, and a lot of houses have windows or doors made of cardboard. Violence and crime are something normal, so it is not recommended to go there. If you do - always watch your wallet, wrist watch and mobile phone.
The Galle Face Green is the trendiest and largest promenade in Colombo. Adjacent to the coast, this mile-long stretch is a constant beehive of activity. Especially busy on weekends, it houses numerous small food stalls and there is even a small bit of beach - in case you want to get wet.

SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS

The National Museum - established in 1887. It is known for its rich collection of objects of art and antiques that display the cultural heritage of Sri Lanka. It has a library with a collection of more than 500,000 books, including very rare and valuable ones. The library also houses more than 4,000 ancient palm leaf manuscripts.
The Parliament Building - it stands in the Galle Face Green and is surrounded by trees. The parliament is not open for the public, but it forms a very popular gathering spot, especially in the evening - there are lots of salesmen and food stalls.
Independence Memorial Hall - this is where the signing of the independence from Great Britain took place in 1948. The building has nice architecture with paintings and stone carvings
Vihara Mahadevi Park - Colombo's biggest park. From March until May it is notable for the marvellous flowering trees. Elephants can often be seen there - taking a bath and spending the night in the park.
Zoo - 11 km away from the Fort, the zoo has a big collection of animals, birds, fish and reptiles from all over the world. There is a charge for bringing a camera.
Jami Ul Alfar Mosque - built even before the Parliament building - dating from 1909, it is one of the most visited tourist sights in Colombo. Like in all mosques around the world, you need to take off your shoes before you enter.
Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara - Kelaniya - the biggest and most important Buddhist temple in Colombo. It is said that Buddha preached at this temple over 2000 years ago. The temple houses a famous image of reclining Buddha and many Hindy deities. If you visit any Buddhist temple, you should never pose beside a Buddha statue, and while greeting a Buddhist Monk or Hindu swami, do not shake hands. To offer a gift, do it with both hands.
Wolvendaal Church - the most important and famous Dutch building in Sri Lanka, dating from 1749. It has 1,5 m tick walls, and its real treasure is the Dutch furniture. The stone floor has elaborate tombstones of 5 Dutch governors.

AIRPORT
The city of Colombo is served by the international airport at Katunayake, which is on the coast north of the city. The national airline Sri Lankan Airlines provides air service to and from Colombo. Flights are available from almost all countries in Europe, United States, Japan, China, the Middle East, India and Pakistan. The facility is not huge, so there hardly ever are more than 3-4 arrivals and departures every hour. The journey from the airport to Colombo by taxi takes about an hour. http://www.srilankan.aero/travelplanner/apinfo_colomboairport_info.shtml

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION

Auto rickshaws - the most convenient way of getting around in Colombo.
Auto-rickshaws ("baby taxis") are available throughout the city. They appear to be the cheapest way to cover long distances. The meters start at Tk12 and an 8 km ride should cost around Tk60.
They are commonly referred to as "three wheelers". Always negotiate price before you take a trip. For shorter distances inside Colombo charge usually is Rs. 200.
Taxi - cars are not the best and newest you can hope for. Most of them have meters starting from Rs. 40, and trip within the boundaries of the city will hardly ever cost more than Rs. 200. Some cabs are air-conditioned.
Public buses - the public bus system in Colombo is not highly developer, although, there are some lines that are convenient for getting around the city. Both private and government sectors operate bus service in Colombo. Daily discount cards are available.
Mass Rapid Transit Railway System - it is similar to that of other advanced Asian cities. Recently, Colombo Metro Rail has begun to control the heavy traffic in the city.

HISTORY
Colombo was known to Romans, Chinese and Arab traders over 2200 years ago - because of its natural harbour. Portuguese explorers first arrived to Sri Lanka in 1505. They signed a treaty with the King of Kotte Parakramabahu VIII (1484-1508), which enabled them to trade in the island's crop of cinnamon. In exchange for the promise of guarding the coast against invaders, Portuguese were given full authority over the coastline of Sri Lanka. They established a trading post in Colombo. Portuguese gradually took over the country and made Colombo their capital. In 1638 the Dutch signed a treaty with King Rajasinha II of Kandy, thus ensuring the king's help in the war with the Portuguese in exchange for a monopoly of the islands main trade goods. The Dutch captured Colombo in 1639 after an epic battle, and it served as a capital of the Dutch Maritime Provinces until 1796. British captured Colombo in 1796, and made it the capital of their newly created Crown Colony of Ceylon. British are responsible for much of the planning of the present city. Still visible in some part of the city are tram car tracks and granite flooring laid during the British rule. In 1948 Ceylon peacefully gained independence from Great Britain.

CITY LINKS

Colombo Municipal Council - http://www.cmc.lk/History.asp
Sri Lanka cities - http://www.bhoomi.lk/SriLanka_Cities_by_Province.aspx
Colombo Stock Exchange - http://www.cse.lk/home/main.jsp
Colombo weather - http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/CEXX0001?from=_bottomnav_business
Colombo travel guide - http://www.worldroom.com/pages/cg_colombo/colombo_main.phtml
Colombo city guide - http://www.colombocityguide.com/

UNIVERSITY LINKS

University of Colombo - http://www.cmb.ac.lk/