Colombo is the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, located in the Western Province. Greater Colombo area has rich multicultural traditions of many religious and ethnic groups. The world's most modern facilities are available in the City. Most of the Five Star Hotels, Banks, Air Line Offices, Shopping complexes, Harbor and Night Life events are in and around the city.

Sri Jayawardhenapura - Kotte
The administrative capital of Sri Lanka, originally a fortress built by Alagakkonara in a village called Dadugama in the 14th century, it gradually rose to prominence as the capital of the Sinhalese kings from the early 15th to late 16th century. The city then known as Jayawardhana Pura Kotte or 'The fortress in the victory-enhancing city' was fortified by high walls surrounding an area of 1 square mile and enclosed by a moat. It fell on bad times with the death in1597 of its last ruler King Dharmapala, who willed his Kingdom away to Philip-I of Portugal. It was much neglected during the period of European colonial rule and it was only recently that its former place in the history of the country was restored with the shifting of the administrative capital from Colombo to Sri Jayawardhanapura Kotte.

Kotte Archaeological Museum
Housed in the Ihala Walawwa, the residence of E.W. Perera - "The Lion of Kotte" - the museum exhibits a variety of items recovered from Kotte and elsewhere, including numerous regional flags, colonial period costumes, weaponry, porcelain, figurines and even some old European brown and blonde tresses.

Town Hall
A massive white building with a huge dome facing the Vihara Maha Devi Park. It was built in 1927 and houses various offices of the Colombo Municipality.

Colombo National Museum
This magnificent museum housed in a large white colonial period building with an imposing façade was opened in 1877. Exhibits include various sculptures from all over the island, royal costumes and ornamentation, weaponry and the throne and other regalia of the last King of Kandy, Sri Vikrama Rajasinha.

Dutch Period Museum
This museum is housed in a large mansion in Prince Street, Pettah said to have belonged to the Dutch Governor, Thomas Van Rhee. Among the exhibits are antique furniture, glassware, cooking items, weaponry, coins and even some old tombstones, all belonging to the Dutch period.

Wolfendhal Church
A famous church dating back to the Dutch period. Built in 1749, this impressive church characterized by a Doric façade also contains numerous tombstones of Dutch officials.

Santa Lucia Cathedral
A huge Roman Catholic Cathedral begun in 1876 but completed only in 1910. The building has a classical façade with a large forecourt and is said to contain the tombs of three French Bishops.

Dewatagaha Mosque - Cinnamon Gardens
A Muslim Shrine in Cinnamon Gardens near the Town Hall, it is connected with a Muslim Saint named Shaykh Uthman Siddiqui who is said to have arrived in the island to propagate the faith.

Jamiul Alfar Mosque - Pettah
Beautiful mosque with white and red brick façade.

Sri Ponnambalam Vanesvara
Sri Ramanathan Road Hindu Kovil renowned for its towering Gopuram and Siva Lingam in its inner sanctum.

Kelaniya

Kelaniya Town is located in close proximity to Colombo, in the direction towards Kandy. Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya is the most important Buddhist Temple in the Colombo district. This is a Sacred Place which Buddha is supposed to have visited. The Kelani Perahera (Procession), is held in January every year, is almost famous as the Kandy Perahera. On Poya days the temple is crowded with pilgrims.

Galle Face Green
A well known place where people visit in the evenings to relax or for jogging. The weekends are full with families and you can see many stalls offering exotic food. Most of the people who visit Colombo from remote villages, especially school children, do not miss visiting here, and they like to get on to the beach. This is the start of the Galle Road from Colombo. You could see the Galle Face Hotel and Ceylon Continental Hotel on either side, and can also see the Hotel Taj Samudra on the land side. Once you walk towards Fort, you can see the Old Parliament building, Hotel Galadari and the World Trade Centre.

Viharamahadevi Park (Victoria Park)
The largest park in Colombo. Located next to the Town Hall. The name Victoria Park was changed after independence in 1948, but is still used occassionally. Viharamahadevi was the mother of the Great King Dutugemunu. This park is also full every evening. There is a children's park at the Town Hall end, but the entrance is from Dharmapala Mawatha. The Public Library is adjoining the Park.