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    Colombo is the largest and former capital city of Sri Lanka, located on the west coast. It has a population of over 6 million and a history as a strategic port city dating back over 2,000 years. Colombo served as Sri Lanka's capital under Portuguese, Dutch, and British rule until the 1980s. While no longer the national capital, it remains the commercial center and is home to many large corporations. Colombo is a diverse, multi-ethnic city with cultural influences from Sinhalese, Moors, Tamils, Portuguese, Dutch, Chinese, and others.

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    Colombo is the largest and former capital city of Sri Lanka, located on the west coast. It has a population of over 6 million and a history as a strategic port city dating back over 2,000 years. Colombo served as Sri Lanka's capital under Portuguese, Dutch, and British rule until the 1980s. While no longer the national capital, it remains the commercial center and is home to many large corporations. Colombo is a diverse, multi-ethnic city with cultural influences from Sinhalese, Moors, Tamils, Portuguese, Dutch, Chinese, and others.

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    64 views1 page

    Colombo

    Uploaded by

    Jec Salac
    Colombo is the largest and former capital city of Sri Lanka, located on the west coast. It has a population of over 6 million and a history as a strategic port city dating back over 2,000 years. Colombo served as Sri Lanka's capital under Portuguese, Dutch, and British rule until the 1980s. While no longer the national capital, it remains the commercial center and is home to many large corporations. Colombo is a diverse, multi-ethnic city with cultural influences from Sinhalese, Moors, Tamils, Portuguese, Dutch, Chinese, and others.

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    Pabillaran, Jecthel C.

    BSA - II

    Colombo is the largest city and former capital of Sri Lanka. 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 and ruins and a city
    population of 647,100. The Colombo Metropolitan Region, defined by the districts
    of Colombo,Gampaha and Kalutara, has an estimated population of 5,648,000, and covers an
    area of 3,694.20 km².
    Due to its large harbour and its strategic position along the East-West sea trade routes,
    Colombo was known to ancient traders 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, and its status as capital
    was retained when the nation became independent in 1948. In 1978, when administrative
    functions were moved to Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Colombo was designated as the
    commercial capital of Sri Lanka.
    History. As Colombo possesses a natural harbor, it was known to Romans, Arabs, and
    Chinese traders over 2,000 years ago. Traveller Ibn Batuta who visited the island in the 14th
    century, referred to it as Kalanpu. Arab Muslims whose prime interests were trade, began to
    settle in Colombo around the 8th century AD mostly because the port helped their business and
    controlled much of the trade between the Sinhalesekingdoms and the outside world. Their
    descendants now comprise the local Sri Lankan Moor community.
    . 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 Sri Lanka's corporate offices, restaurants and entertainment venues.[6] Famous
    landmarks in Colombo include the Galle Face Green, theViharamahadevi Park as well as the
    National Museum.
    Demographics. Colombo is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural city. The population of Colombo is a mix
    of numerous ethnic groups, mainly Sinhalese, Moors and Tamils. There are also small
    communities of people with Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, Malay and Indian origins living in the
    city, as well as numerous European expatriates. Colombo is the most populous city in Sri
    Lanka, with 642,163 people living within the city limits.
    National capital. Colombo was the capital of the coastal areas controlled by the Portuguese,
    Dutch and the British from the 1700s to the 1815 when the British gained control of the
    entire island following the Kandian convention. From then until the 1980s the national
    capital of the island was Colombo.
    Economy. 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
    jewellery. In the city centre is located South Asia's second tallest building - The World Trade
    Centre. 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 Pettahwhich is
    derived from the Sinhalese word pita which means out or outside as it is outside theFort.

    Culture. Colombo's most beautiful festival is the celebration of Buddha's Birth, Enlightenment
    and Death all falling on the same day.[50] In Sinhala this is known as Vesak.[50] 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 Dunsal are popular amongst visitors from the suburbs.

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