The Fort – Covering no more than 500
sq m, The Fort area lies immediately south of the harbour.
During the European era, ‘’Fort’’
was indeed a fort, surrounded by the sea on two sides
and a moat on the landward side. There are little remains
from either the Dutch or the Portuguese periods. Today
however it is dominated by, modern structures such as
the World Trade Centre, many large banks, airline officers
etc.
Galle Face Green – Situated immediately
south of the Fort, the stretch of land between the Galle
Face Hotel and the Ceylon Continental Hotel is the Galle
Face Green. It was originally cleared by the Dutch to
give the cannons of Fort a clear line of fire. Today
however it is a popular rendezvous spot, recently upgraded.
It is also very popular among the locals who come to
exercise and relax It can get quite busy during weekends
with lots of food stalls and vendors selling knick-knacks.
Independence Memorial Hall –
Independence Avenue, Colombo 7.
It was in this hall on the 4th February 1948, that the
signing of the independence from Great Britain took
place. Celebrations take place every year and the building
is of nice architecture with stone carvings and paintings.
Parliament Building – Parliament
Road, Sri Jayawardenapura, Kotte,
The impressive new parliament building designed by renowned
Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa. It stands in the
middle of a lake surrounded by parkland. It is a very
popular gathering spot in the evenings with lots of
salesmen and foodstalls. The parliament is not open
for the public.
Pettah – Is one of the oldest
districts in Colombo -- Colombo’s treasure chest
or bazaar. You can find just about any item you are
looking for in Pettah’s maze of small streets,
with shops hidden in all corners. Shops selling the
same kind of items tend to cluster in a particular street.
If crowds make you claustrophobic then it will be wise
to visit on a Poya day, or take a trustworthy guide.
Colombo’s bus and train stations are located on
the east and south fringes of Pettah.
Town Hall – F. R. Senanayake
Mawatha, Colombo 7.
This beautiful building houses the Colombo Municipal
Council
Vihara Mahadevi Park – Colombo’s
biggest park, originally called Victoria Park but renamed
in the 1950s after the mother of King Dutugemunu. From
March to early May, it is notable for its superb flowering
trees. On the west side is situated a carnival and a
playground for children. Elephants can frequently be
seen taking a bath and spending the night in the park,
which is usually taken up by strolling lovers during
the day.
Zoo – Dharmapala Mawatha, Dehiwela.
Tel: 271 2751.Open 8:30am-6pm daily.
Situated 11km from the Fort, the zoo has a fine collection
of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish from all over
the world. The aquarium displays over 500 varieties
of aquatic life. Also, walk through the Aviary, Reptilian,
and Butterfly Park. There are daily elephant performances
at 5:15pm. Admission fee adults Rs.200 children Rs.100.
There is a charge for bringing a camera.
Religious Sites
When entering any temple or religious site,
it is customary to remove shoes and walk barefoot. Women
should wear long pants or skirts with a modest blouse.
Men should wear long trousers. Never pose beside a Buddha
statue and when greeting a Buddhist monk or Hindu swami,
no not shake hands and if you wish to offer a gift do
so with both hands.
Buddhist Temples
Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara – Kelaniya.
The most important Buddhist Temple in Colombo and the
second most visited Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka, after
the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy. The temple dates back
from about 1300. The Buddha is said to have preached
at this temple over 2000 years ago and the ‘’Mahavansa’’
recorded that the original stupa enshrined a gem-studded
throne on which the Buddha sat. The temple later constructed
on the spot was destroyed by Indian invaders, restored,
destroyed again by the Portuguese, and restored once
again in the 18th and 19th centuries. The dagoba, which
is unusual in being hollow and is shaped in the form
of a ‘heap of paddy’. The dagoba is the
focus of a festival called the Duruthu Perahera held
in January each year (Festival with parading dancers,
drummers and dressed up elephants), which draws thousands
of pilgrims from all over the island. There is also
a very famous image of the reclining Buddha as well
as many Hindu deities at the temple.
Gangarama Vihara – 61, Sri Jinaratana
Road, Colombo 2. Tel: 232 7084/ 243 5169.
Email: gangaramaya@lgo.lk www.gangarama.lk
One of the famous and beautiful temples in Colombo.
It is beautifully decorated with stone carving, brass
work, and other forms of Buddhist art. The temple is
not only a place of worship but also a centre of learning.
Every Tuesday and Friday, meditation classes are held
from 5.00 till 6.30 p.m. under the guidance of a well-known
meditation teacher It also has a museum, complete with
temple and residential hall.
The temple is widely known for organizing the famous
Nawam Perahera, a religious procession, held around
the Full Moon Poya day in February. Hundreds of dancers,
dressed in traditional costumes representing the different
dance traditions of Sri Lanka, accompanied by drummers,
colourfully dressed up elephants (the temple possesses
six elephants and tuskers) and over 500-700 Buddhists
monks from all over the island take part in the procession
dressed in their saffron robes and carrying the Vatapatha
(fan). It’s a marvellous performance, which attracts
many devotees, spectators, and tourists. Definitely
not to be missed!
The small temple in the middle of Beira Lake, which
is called Simamalaka, is also part of the Gangarama
temple and is nearly a century old. The original Simamalaka
fell into ruin and collapsed into Beira Lake. The present
Simamalaka was opened on the 10th of February 1979.
A model of the foot of the Buddha sculptured in marble,
has been donated to Gangaramaya temple, and is placed
in the Simamalaka. On either side of the entrance to
the Simamalaka on the wall, are beautiful works of sculpture,.
The sculpture on the right depicts unwholesome actions
and their bad consequences, the wholesome actions and
their good results. The sculpture on the left wall,
tells the story of Sri Lanka’s 2500-year-old history
and the important events in the Buddhist religion.
Hindu Temples
Kathiresan Kovil – Sea Street,
Colombo 11, Pettah.
Hindu temples are also known as ‘’kovils’’.
The Kathiresan kovil is one of the oldest in Colombo
and dedicated to the war god Skanda.The temple is the
starting point for the annual Hindu Vel Festival when
the huge trident chariot is dragged to kovils in Bambalapitiya.
Sri Kailawasanathar Swami Devasthanam –
Located at Captain’s Gardens, Kovil Veediya,
Colombo 11.
Situated behind the Fort Railway Station it is reputed
to be the oldest and one of the largest Hindu temples
in Colombo. Houses shrines dedicated to Shiva and Ganesh.
Mosques
The Grand Mosque – Mosque Lane,
Kotahena, Colombo 13.
It is the largest and most important mosque for the
Muslim community.
Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque – Corner of 2nd
Cross-and Bankshall Street, Pettah.
It is a very decorative mosque dating from 1909 with
its candy-striped red and white brickwork.
Churches
Wolvendaal Church – Ratnajothis
Saravanamuttu Mawatha, Kotahena, Colombo 13.
Dating from 1749 it is the most important and famous
Dutch building in Sri Lanka.It is prominently placed
on a hill, shaped in the form of a massive Greek cross
commanding a view over the harbour. With walls 1.5m
thick, the real treasure is its Dutch furniture. Its
Doric façade is solid and heavy. The Dutch governors
had a special pew made with elegant carved ebony chairs
and the workmanship on the wooden pulpit, baptismal
font and lectern is beautiful. The stone floor includes
elaborate tombstones of five Dutch governors.
St. Lucia’s Cathedral – St. Lucia’s
Street, Kotahena, Colombo 13.
The cathedral, in the Catholic heart of the Kotahena
district, is the biggest church in Sri Lanka, able to
hold up to 5000 worshippers. The Pope conducted a service
here in 1994. It is a huge grey structure with a classical
façade and a large forecourt. Begun in 1876 it
was completed in 1910.Inside are tombs of three French
bishops.
Museums
The National Museum – Sir Marcus
Fernando Mawatha, Colombo 7.Tel: 269 4366/ 269 4767.
Open 9am-5pm.Closed on Fridays.
The National Museum was established in 1877. Best known
for its collection of antiques and objects d’art
displaying the cultural heritage of Sri Lanka. It houses
the throne and other royal insignia of the last king
of Kandy, Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe. A section of the
first floor houses the Puppetry and Children’s
Museum. Its library has a collection of 500,000 books
including very valuable and rare ones and more than
4,000 ancient palm leaf manuscripts. The museum also
houses statues, coins, furniture etc. Admission fees
are Rs.65 for adults and Rs.35 for children.
Natural History Museum – Sir Marcus Fernando
Mawatha, Colombo 7. Tel: 269 1399.Open 9am-5pm.Closed
on Fridays.
Situated in the same premises as the National Museum
(same entrance) it displays the Natural Heritage of
Sri Lanka. The fauna are displayed in dioramas and there
are sections on Applied Botany, Geology and Fossils
and the Natural Environment. Admission fees are Rs.35
adults and Rs.20 children.
The Dutch Period Museum – Prince Street,
Colombo 11, Pettah. Tel: 244 8466.Open daily except
Fridays from 9am-5pm.
Located in an old mansion built in the period of the
Dutch occupation and was opened to the public in 1982.
The building has the unique features of a colonial Dutch
town house and the museum displays furniture, ceramics,
coins, arms, costumes etc. Admission: adults Rs.50 and
children Rs.25.
Libraries
The British Council – 49, Alfred
House Gardens, Colombo 3. Tel: 258 0301.Open 10am-6pm.Closed
on Sunday, Monday and Poya days.
Membership is required. Has English literature, reference,
and resources. Also has an extensive video and cassette
library.
National Library of Sri Lanka – 14, Independence
Avenue, Colombo 7. Tel: 269 8847/ 268 5199.Open 9am-5pm.Closed
on Monday. Membership required. It is a reference library
only so no books may be allowed to take out. The library
holds a collection of Ola leaves dating back many years.
Public Library – Marcus Fernando Mawatha,
Colombo 7. Open 8am-6: 30pm.Closed on Wednesday.
Membership required, for a nominal fee. The library
has a large variety of books and magazines in all three
languages.
Art Galleries
Eco House – 294, Park Road,
Colombo 5. Tel: 250 1303.
A place for unknown artists to exhibit their talents
and work consisting of paintings, sketches, sculpture,
and other works of art.
Barefoot Gallery – 706, Galle Road, Colombo
3. Tel: 2505559
Website: http://www.barefootgallery.com
Email: artgallery@barefoot.lk
Its open spaces are ideal for exhibitions, be it paintings,
sculptures, furniture, photographs etc. Sometimes the
gallery is even used to stage plays, recite poems, or
listen to live music.
Lionel Wendt Memorial Art Centre – 18,
Guilford Crescent, Colombo 7. Tel: 269 5794.
Open 9am-1pm & 2pm-4pm Mon-Fri.
Houses contemporary art and craft exhibitions. There
is always something happening at the Lionel Wendt be
it sales of antiques, exhibitions of paintings, sculptures,
photographs or posters.
The Sapumal Foundation – 32/4, Barnes
Place, Colombo 7.Tel: 269 5731.Open 10am-1pm Thur-Sat.
Some of the best examples of Sri Lankan art from the
late 1020’s onwards is exhibited in this former
home of the late artist Harry Peiris.
Serendib Gallery – 36, 1/1 Rosmead Place,
Colombo 7. Tel: 4710002. Open 11am-6pm.
Email: info@theserendibgallery.com www.theserendibgallery.com.
One of the best known galleries it exhibits a permanent
but changing variety in paintings, drawings and sculpture.
It also specializes in antique books, drawings and sketches
on Sri Lanka.They have developed a special website of
over 300 pages, covering many aspects of art in Sri
Lanka which can be seen at www.artsrilanka.org
Cinemas
Empire Theatre – 51, Braybrooke Place,
Colombo 2. Tel: 232 3250.
Liberty Cinema – 35, Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo
3. Tel: 232 5264-66.
Majestic Cinema – Level 4, Majestic City, Colombo
4. Tel: 258 1795.
The Savoy – 12, Savoy Building, Colombo 6. Tel:
255 2877.
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