 Colombo, although no longer the political and administrative capital of Sri Lanka, is the country’s economic centre. It is the island nation’s largest city and its main port. Located on this small country’s south-western coast, Colombo spreads out over the plains that border the sea, stretching along the coast for miles on its western side.
The city is a busy yet attractive metropolis. The traffic is frenetic along the roadways and people seem to move in swarms throughout the day and into the evening. While there are other spots in Sri Lanka that also interest tourists, such as beautiful beach resorts and nature preserves, this colourful and fascinating city provides one of the best introductions to the life and culture of this ethnically-diverse island nation.
The historic Fort district is at the heart of the city, and serves as the central business district with its government offices and shops as well as major business operations. It’s in this area that you’ll find most of the gracious colonial architecture dating from the Dutch, Portuguese and British periods. To the east of Fort is Pettah district, where streets are full of shops and vendors offering goods ranging from fruits to precious gems.
 Moving south along the seafront, you’ll see locals flying kites, playing cricket and enjoying sunset strolls on Galle Face Green. Past Galle Face is the elegant residential neighbourhood known as Cinnamon Gardens, home to stately mansions; shady, tree-lined streets and the well-known Viharamaha Devi Park. Around six miles from Galle Face is the closest seaside resort, at Mount Lavinia.
Colombo’s accommodation options are plentiful and range from guesthouses to hotels of international standard. The city is quite easy to navigate and there’s enough on offer to keep visitors occupied for at least a few days. You’ll find several cinemas, theatres, art galleries, museums, parks and sporting grounds, in addition to numerous historical attractions.
The variety of cuisines available is extensive, as is the variety of venues at which you can dine. Above all, the city is friendly as well as exotic, and makes for a memorable travel experience.
History
Colombo had its beginnings in the 5th century AD, as a small port town, eventually developing into one of the capitals of Anuradhapura – a major Sinhalese kingdom. The original inhabitants of this island country were known as Veddahs and most likely came from the Indian sub-continent, while the Singhalese arrived later in the 5th or 6th century BC.
By the 8th century, Arab traders had arrived in Colombo and remained until the 10th century, by which time attacks by southern Indian, Chinese and Malays had become commonplace. These invasions continued until the early 16th century, when the Portuguese arrived.
The Portuguese began colonising the coastal area north and south of Colombo, and came to monopolise trade. Local residents tried to enlist aid from the Dutch to drive out the Portuguese, with the result being domination by the Dutch for more than 140 years.
By the end of the 18th century, British forces overthrew the Dutch and expanded their hold to control the entire island. During the period of British rule, the Fort area was created in Colombo and Tamils from the southern regions of India were brought to Sri Lanka, in large numbers, to work on coffee plantations across the island. It was during this time that Colombo became the country’s capital.
In 1948, the country won independence from Britain, and shortly thereafter tensions developed between the Sinhalese and the Tamils, particularly after the introduction of Sinhalese as the nation’s official language and of laws preventing Tamils from enjoying equal rights to education.
By the 1970s, the tensions escalated to violence and the government imposed its first state of emergency. In the late 1980s, India intervened to restore peace, an act that proved to be unsuccessful. Indian peacekeepers withdrew in 1990 and warfare continued as peace talks failed to relieve tensions.
Today, tensions remain, and the conflict between the government and Tamil Tiger separatists occasional re-emerges although fighting is largely confined to the northern and eastern regions of the country. Colombo is usually unaffected, although terrorist acts have been perpetrated in the city. In spite of the unstable situation, Colombo attracts large numbers of tourists, who use the city as a base for exploration of this fascinating island.
Weather
Sri Lanka’s climate is similar to that experienced in southern India, and involves two monsoon seasons and a dry season. Colombo’s weather, and much of the weather of the south-western section of the island, is impacted by the Yala monsoon during the period from May to August.
The dry season runs from December to April. In the northern and eastern sections of the island, the weather patterns are different: the monsoon season is from October to January and the dry season lasts from May to September. During the months of October and November all parts of Sri Lanka experience occasional heavy downpours and thunderstorms.
Average daytime temperatures in Colombo range from 20°C to 27°C and the waters off the coast maintain a pleasant temperature of 27°C throughout the year. With the island divided into two monsoon zones, you can find good weather somewhere in Sri Lanka most any month of the year.
The best time to visit Colombo is from December to March, even though it can be hot and humid at times. It’s always a good idea to arrange sightseeing and walks in the early morning, when the weather is cool. If you’re visiting Colombo during the monsoon season, you are advised that heavy rains commonly cause flooding, making it difficult to get around.
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