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Colombo:Colombo is a metropolitan city with a population of nearly one million. It is the commercial Capital of Sri Lanka, which keeps pace with modern developments while preserving the Old World charms. Among the many places of interest in the City are the Fort, the Old Parliament House (presently the Presidential Secretariat), Buddhist temples, Old Churches, Hindu temples, Mosques, the National Museum, Independence Hall, Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall  and the Zoological Gardens. ‘Five Star’ international chain hotels and a large number of other hotels and guest houses provide comfortable accommodation to the visitors at affordable prices. Several specialty restaurants serving international cuisine, karaoke bars, and discotheques keep the visitors happy late into the night.

Bandaranaike International Airport is located 35 km. north of Colombo. The drive from the airport to the City takes less than an hour and comfortable taxis moderately priced are available at the airport. Public transport either by road or by rail is also available at regular intervals. There are twenty-nine international airlines currently operating through Sri Lanka with a weekly movement of around 370 aircraft. 


Sri Lanka’s National Carrier, which was inaugurated on September 1, 1979 as AirLanka has now assumed a new corporate identity as SriLankan Airlines. It is now flying to 34 destinations with a fleet of 12 aircraft. 

The Fort:The name comes from the old Portuguese garrison of the 16th century located at the site of the present City. Lighthouse Clock Tower standing at the junction of Chatham Street and Janadhipathi Mawatha is the best landmark of Colombo Fort. It was built in 1857 during British occupation of the Island and is the only lighthouse in the world located away from the beach in a city centre. Next to that is the President’s House. Fort is a busy shopping centre. Several buildings of the British period line the streets.  

The Old Parliament House:The building erected by the British in the Greco-Roman architectural style housed the Legislative Council of the Colonial period. Later it became the House of Parliament till the shifting of the House to its present location at Sri Jayawardenepura-Kotte. Presently it is used as the Office and Secretariat of Her Excellency the President. 

Buddhist Temples:The ancient temple of Kelaniya is only seven miles to the north east of the Colombo and is a place hallowed by the visit of the Buddha. It is famous for its unique wall paintings reproduced in many tourist brochures. Vajiraramaya, in Bambalapitiya is an important and popular Buddhist temple. Gangaramaya near the Beira Lake is another beautiful temple in the City. Gothami Viharaya at Borella is famous for its wall paintings by the late George Keyt one of the foremost artists of Sri Lanka. Paramanada Purana Viharaya in Kotahena was founded in 1806 and Dipaduttamaramaya in Kotahena is the oldest Buddhist temple in the city.

Old Churches:The Garrison Church of St. Peter consecrated in 1821 is on the Church Street near Grand Oriental Hotel. The Wolfendhal Church built by the Dutch in 1757 is one of the few authentic Dutch buildings in the city. St. Lucia’s Cathedral in Kotahena is the only cathedral in Colombo and is the centre of Roman Catholicism in the country. 

Hindu Temples:In the Sea Street in Colombo are several Hindu temples, the Ganeshan, the Old Kathiresan and the New Kathiresan with their colourful Gopurams (doorways). Several other Hindu temples (Kovils) are seen in the City. 

Mosques :Several old mosques are in the City. Near the Colombo Town Hall is the Davatagaha Mosque which is over a century old. 

 National Museum: National Museum of Sri Lanka was established in 1877 during the time of the British Governor Sir William Gregory. It has a large collection of items showing the historical and cultural past of Sri Lanka. The most interesting among the exhibits are the regalia of the Kandyan Kings dating back to the 17th century. The Royal throne, crown and the sceptre of the Kandyan Kings are on display. 

Independence Hall :The Independence Hall was erected to commemorate the liberation of Sri Lanka from British rule on 4th February 1948. Sri Lanka became a British Colony when the British captured the Island on 2nd March 1815 with the signing of the Kandyan Convention between the representatives of the Kandyan Court and those of the King of England.

 The Zoological Gardens :The Zoological Gardens of Sri Lanka is located in Dehiwala to the south of Colombo. It is about 11 acres in extent and boasts of a very fine collection of animals, birds, reptiles and fishes from Sri Lanka and several foreign countries. There is an Elephant Circus daily in the evening, which is a very popular event.