Welcome to Colombo City

Karu Peiris
 Beira Lake in Slave island
Beira Lake
Located in Slave Island, Colombo-2,
Constructed by digging a canal from a tributary of the River Kelani
100 years ago the extent is approximately 165 ha., of land and has been reduced to
65 hectares.
The lake was originally built before the colonization of the country and connected
to a network of canals provided easy way of transporting goods within the
city and suburban cities
The Portuguese used this as a protective moat, when king Rajasinghe I attacked
Colombo Fort
The Portuguese, the Dutch and the English used to transport goods to the harbour
The lake has two distinct bodies of water,
The smaller lake is bordering Navam Mawatha and the larger lake bordering D.R.
Wijewardena Mw.
The two bodies are connected by a narrow canal which runs through Slave Island
and Army H.Q The lake spills to the Indian Ocean at Galle Face
This lake with its distinct center island and Seemalakaya is a popular recreational
area in the city.
Sima Malaka
The Chapter house of Gangarama Temple
(Uposathagara to preach Prathimokshaya)
A place where disciplinary actions implemented
against the Buddhist monks who misbehaved
Also a place where higher ordination which takes
place for novice monks
In a Simamalaka, if the place is not encircled by
waters then the ‘demarcation pillars’ should be
fixed to mark the sacred area
This Sima malaka is under the guidance of the Asgiriya
chapter in Siyam sect in Kandy
Galle Face Green - The extent is 16 acres and named as ‘Mapane’ by the Portuguese in 16th century
During the Dutch period this was the site for public execution in the presence of the relatives
In 1803 three hundred bodies were buried here who died from Malaria
Therefore this was not a pleasant place at least for 200 years
Governor Edward Barns was the person who converted the Galle face green to an elegant place in 1829
In 1859 Lady Henry Ward declared this green as a place for leisure for ladies and children
The front elevation of the fortress of Colombo was facing the Galle direction and named it as Galle Face
In his period this was the Colpetty Race Course for horse races, and the length was 1.5 miles
Later this esplanade was used for sports such as Cricket, Polo, and Golf
Today Galle face in Colombo is a popular destination by the beach, where people come to play informal
games, have picnics, fly kites, jog or exercise or merely gaze at the sea and take in air!
Slave Island –(Compañña Veediya) The contemptible business in the world is the selling of the humans
as slaves. The name Slave Island was given during the period of British and refers to the situation under
Portuguese and Dutch administration when slaves were held there
They were brought here from Mozambique & Madagascar and were treated as animals
The Portuguese started this business for the first time in Asia in Goa
They were not paid but given only the food to survive
According to the records of the Dutch Governor Goens, there were 4000 slaves in Colombo in his period
Due to the rigorous work these kaffirs broke-out in a rebellion
They killed the Dutch fiscal ‘Stone Pat’ and his wife by stabbing
So they were stalled to an island in Beira Lake
Present world trade center premises is the place known as Kaffir Weldt in those days
In 1845 slavery was banned by the British
Some African descendants are scattered throughout Sri Lanka and are known as Sri Lankan Kaffirs
 Colombo Port City
"An economic game changer" is how officials describe
Colombo Port City, a shiny metropolis soaring (elevated)
out of the water along the Sri Lankan capital's seafront.
Port City Colombo is a new city development built as an
extension of the existing Colombo Central Business District
(CBD).
The port city would require around 269 hectares of reclaimed-
land.
116 hectares is owned by the China Communications
Construction Company (CCCC), itself owned by the China
Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC), and the Government
of Sri Lanka has set aside another 91 hectares for public
spaces.
 What are the main objectives of the Colombo Port
City project?
The CCCC's objective was to turn Colombo into one of the
region's most important marine and logistics centers, as
well as to modify the landscape of Sri Lanka's main trade
routes.
The CCCC was thus connected with one of Sri Lanka's strategic
goals: to promote the city as a regional and global center.
It is a 100% owned subsidiary of China Harbour Engineering
Company Ltd (CHEC).
Therefore the owner of Colombo Port City is China Harbour
Engineering Company Ltd.
China Communications & Construction Company (CCCC),
which is the Parent Company of CHEC is listed on the Stock
Exchanges of Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Presidential Secretariat
(Old Parliament building)
The Old Parliament building located closer to the
Galle Face Green, now the Presidential
Secretariat
It is the office of the President of Sri Lanka
It provides the administrative framework for the
duties, responsibilities and powers vested in the
President by the Constitution from 1978
The head of the Presidential Secretariat is the
Secretary to the President
Mr. Gamini Senarath, SLAS.
The post as its roots from the post of Secretary to
the Governor-General of Ceylon
The building was built by British during their
ruling period
This is a replica of the abode of Goddess
Athena located in the mountain
range on Athens in Greece.
The Baroque Revival, also known as Neo-
Baroque, an architectural style of the
late 19th century.
The building was opened on 29 January 1930 by
Governor Sir Herbert Stanley, as a year
later it was taken over by the State
Council of Ceylon
 Galle Face Hotel
The Galle Face Hotel, founded in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 1864, is the oldest hotel east of Suez
The colonial period building gives the magnificent look
The hotel is a member of Select Hotels and Resorts International
It is listed as one of the "1000 Places to See Before You Die" in the book bearing the same
name
It received the "Best Heritage Hotel" title three years running at the Presidential Awards for
Travel and Tourism of Sri Lanka, held in June 2010, June 2011and September 2012
In addition it won the first-ever PATA award for Best International Heritage Hotel, in 2012
In September 2012, it became the first hotel in Sri Lanka to be featured on a postage stamp
The Galle Face Hotel has four restaurants
They are the Sea Spray seafood restaurant, which has a daily dinner buffet,
The 1864 Fine Dining Restaurant and wine cellar, an English pub called in.. On the Green,
A buffet restaurant known as the Verandah
The open Verandah is the venue for the Daily High Tea on the terrace

Galle face Hotel – (The Stamp)

Temple Trees
The history of Temple Trees dates back to early
19th century
The house was subsequently acquired by
George Winter, a wealthy merchant
and the first editor of the Colombo Observer
Later, Philip Green bought it and named it
"Temple Trees" in 1856 for the Temple
flower (Plumeria aeuminata) trees that
grew around the bungalow
Before it was known as ‘Brandery’ , a Dutch
word
The house was purchased by the British
Government of Ceylon
Used as the residence of the Colonial Secretary
Since 1948 it became the residence of the Prime
Minister of Ceylon
After Executive President’s Post was
implemented this became the official
residence of the President
Presidential Secretariat
(Old Parliament building)
The Old Parliament building located closer to the
Galle Face Green, now the Presidential
Secretariat
It is the office of the President of Sri Lanka
It provides the administrative framework for the
duties, responsibilities and powers vested in the
President by the Constitution from 1978
The head of the Presidential Secretariat is the
Secretary to the President
Mr. Gamini Senarath, SLAS.
The post as its roots from the post of Secretary to
the Governor-General of Ceylon
The building was built by British during their
ruling period
This is a replica of the abode of Goddess
Athena located in the mountain
range on Athens in Greece.
The Baroque Revival, also known as Neo-
Baroque, an architectural style of the
late 19th century.
The building was opened on 29 January 1930 by
Governor Sir Herbert Stanley, as a year
later it was taken over by the State
Council of Ceylon
Presidential Secretariat (contd)
• President's Office will be concerned with the
following aspects of governance:-
• Co-ordinating and reviewing the implementation
of Government policy in all sectors;
• Monitoring progress in the implementation of
specific projects and programs;
• Addressing supposed public aspirations and
grievances, and
• Maintaining a watching brief over the nation's
external relations.
The last jail of the last king (Rajasinghe Guard)
Being a small structure, this is said to be the
detention chamber of the last king Sri
Vickrema Rajasinghe (1798-1815)
he was taken to India by the British
The cell is located in the shadow of the Ceylinco
Building
Three sides of the cell are square in shape while
the fourth is oval
Only one entrance exists at present
This whole area was shattered in the 1996
Central Bank bombing by the LTTE
terrorists
So we presume that this is the original structure
because the cell is a tiny building
which looks like a security post
Inside, there are portraits of King Sri Vickrema
Rajasinghe, his consort Queen Venkata
Rengammal, the Adhikaram
Pilimatalawe who betrayed them, & the
British Governor General Robert
Brownrigg
There are also images of the ship that took him
away and his final resting place in South India
Colombo Lighthouse & Galle Buck
the Light house in Colombo is operated and maintained by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority
It is located at Galbokka Point south of the Port of Colombo on the waterfront along the
Marine Drive, in the Colombo Fort.
The lighthouse was built in 1952 after the Old Colombo Lighthouse was deactivated
due to expansion project.
It was opened by Rt. Hon. D.S. Senanayake the first Prime Minister of Ceylon
Built on a concrete base with 12 meters high & it has four statues of lions at its base
Due to the panoramic view of the Indian Ocean it offered, this became on city landmark
With the escalation of the Sri Lankan Civil War public access to the site was restricted
This was due to its placement in a high security zone as it across the street from the Navel
Headquarters and close proximity of the Port of Colombo
World Trade Center This is the third highest world trade center in South Asia, 153 m in height
Started construction in 1990 and opened in 1997
The center consists of two identical 40-storeyed east and west towers
Managed by Overseas reality Ceylon PLC., (better known as ORCPLC)
ORCPLC is a part of Mireka Capital Land (pvt) Ltd which owns the Havelock City Project,
one of the largest residential projects in Asia
In the later years of the Sri-Lankan civil war, the LTTE attempted a 9-11 similar attack to crash
into the towers in a plane
However, the attack failed as the plane was shot down
 The Dutch Hospital building in Colombo
The Old Colombo Dutch Hospital (known
as The Dutch Hospital ) is considered to
be the oldest building in the Colombo Fort
area dating back to the Dutch colonial era
1640-1796 in Sri Lanka.
It is now a heritage building and a
shopping and dining precinct
The building was the Colombo Fort Police
Station from the early 1980s to 1990s,
prior to which it housed the Colombo
Apothecaries.
It suffered heavy damage in the LTTE
attack that followed the Central Bank
bombing in 1996.
In 2011, it has been transformed into a
shopping and dining precinct, where the
historic architecture has been preserved.
The Dutch Hospital

The Dutch captured Colombo on 7th May 1656 and started to build this hospital
Good example for the Dutch Colonial architecture with five wings forming two courtyards
It is designed to keep out the heat and humidity and provide a comfortable environment
within
Like many Colombo Dutch buildings of the era, the walls are 50 cm thick
The structure features massive teak beams
The upper floor is located in the front wing and can be reached using a wooden staircase
This upper storey has a wooden floor
A long open veranda runs along the length of each wing of the building
The Dutch established the Colombo hospital to look after the health of the officers and other
staff serving under the Dutch East India company, and to serve the wounded soldiers also
The hospital's proximity to the Colombo harbour allowed it to serve Dutch seafarers
The most famous of all the surgeons who worked in the Colombo hospital was Paul Hermann
He served from 1672-79
Hermann has been described as the father of Botany in Sri Lanka
In 1875 the maximum number of patients came up to 185, and in1886 increased up to 300
In this hospital they also practised native Ayurveda system
For this purpose indigenous doctors had been recruited

In 2011, it has been transformed into a shopping and dining complex, while preserving the
Dutch architecture
Chatham Street Victorian Clock Tower

Two years older than the Big Ben in Westminster

Height is 96 feet and in the olden days this was the
Colombo light house
The light was operated from gas a line and the light
focused to a distance of 16 miles with
an intensity of 1500 candle power
Because of poor planning controls it became
surrounded by new tall buildings
Therefore it eventually could not function
effectively as a light-house
The modern Galle Buck Lighthouse was erected on
Marine Drive as its replacement
On the top of the semi-globe roof is a metal arrow
on a pole, to show wind-direction
The idea of building a lighthouse for Colombo
Harbour was to help shipping navigation
into the harbour and avoid the lethargic
rocks, and this was proposed in 1815
The lighthouse was built in 1856
Lady Ward, the wife of the Governor of Ceylon,
created the elegant design
Queen's House which became President's House when Sri Lanka was declared a Republic
President's House is the official residence of the President of Sri Lanka
Located in Colombo fort, (Colombo 1)
It used to be the Queen's House until Sri Lanka became a Republic in 1972
British gained control of Sri Lanka from the Dutch, in 1802 (Coastal belt only)
The last Dutch Governor of Ceylon, Johan Gerard van Angelbeek’s house was taken
over by the British
They converted this as the official residence of the Governor of Ceylon known as
Government House
But most commonly referred to as the King's House or the Queen's House
depending on the ruler of that time
Since independence in 1948 the house became the official residence of the
Governor General of Ceylon
It was formally renamed as the President’s House in 1972 after Sri Lanka became a
republic
William Gopallawa was the last Governor General and first President of Sri Lanka,
resided at the house
In 1979 the Sri Lanka corps of military Police formed the President’s Ceremonial
Guard Company at the President’s House to perform ceremonial guard
duties, such as Guard Mounting
Queen’s House or President’s House
Grand Oriental Hotel in Colombo
The building was once the mansion of a Dutch Governor and then a military barrack
A new hotel came into being in 1870 under the patronage of British Governor Robert Wilmot
Horton, and In 1875 the hotel was christened as Grand Oriental Hotel
Even today this is a luxury hotel with 154 rooms
The redesigning was undertaken by the famous architect Geoffery Bawa in 1966
Colombo Port
Known as Port of Kolomtota in the early 14th Century, Kotte kingdom
This is the largest and busiest port in Sri Lanka as well as in South Asia
Located in Colombo, on the southwestern shores on the Kelani River
It serves as an important terminal in Asia due to its strategic location in the Indian Ocean
Port faced to a modernization in 1980s, with the installation of Cranes, Gantries and other
modern-day terminal requirements
Currently with a capacity of 5.1 million TEUs and a dredged depth of over 15 m (49 ft)
The twenty-foot equivalent unit (often TEU or teu) is an inexact unit of cargo capacity often
used to describe the capacity of container ships and container terminals
The Colombo Harbour is one of the busiest ports in the world, and ranks among the top 35
It is also one of the biggest artificial harbours in the world handling most of the country's
foreign trade, which has an annual cargo tonnage of 30.9 million tons
The port is also the naval base for Sri Lanka navy Western Fleet under the
Commander Western Naval Area (COMWEST)
 Grand Oriental Hotel

Colombo Port
Dutch museum
Located in Prince Street, Colombo 11, amidst
the bazar
-In 1692 this was the official residence for the
Dutch governor Thomas Van Rhee
-Later converted to a Seminary, organized by
VOC, with an orphanage and a religious center
-Under the British Government this was a Police
Training center, armoury and army hospital
-In 1930, Pettah Post Office was established here
-Finally the Dutch Museum was opened to the
public in this place in the year 1982
-Colombo Dutch Museum covers the history of the
Dutch colonial rule in Sri Lanka
-This building embodies the unique architectural
features of a colonial Dutch urban house
-The museum displays the Dutch legacy with the
artifacts viz. furniture, ceramics, coins, arms etc.
-It contains more than 3000 museum objects
related to the Dutch
-They ruled the coastal areas of Sri Lanka from
1658-1796
-The building was preserved by a prevention
committee with the assistance of
Netherlands Govt. in 1977
 Jami-Ul-Alfar mosque

Red mosque at 2nd Cross Street

Jami-Ul-Afar Mosque also knowsn as the Red Mosque.
Located in Colombo, 2nd Cross Street in Pettah.
Construction of this mosque commenced in 1908 and
completed in 1909.
The mosque was commissioned by the local Muslim
community, based in Pettah, to fulfill their five times daily
prayer and Jummah on Fridays.
The designer and builder was Habibu Lebbe Saibu Lebbe.
He was an unqualified architect, but the building was based on
details/images of Indo-Saracenic structures provided by
South Indian traders who commissioned him.
This is a hybrid style of architecture, from native Indo- Islamic
and Indian architecture and combines it with the Gothic
revival and Neo-classical styles.
Originally it had the capacity for 1,500 worshippers although at
the time only around 500 were attending prayers
 Wolvendaal Church (Christian Reformed Church in Sri Lanka)
-Construction work of the church began in 1749 & it took 8 years to complete
-Julius Valentijn Stein Van Gollenesse (1743-51) was the governor who pioneered it
-His initials J.V.S.V.G. are inscribed to commemorate his contribution to the building
-Established in 1757 as a Protestant Church or as they described
‘True Christian Reformed Church’
-The Wolvendaal Church is the oldest Protestant Church in use in Sri Lanka
-It celebrated its 260th anniversary in this year (2017)
-The name of the Church derived from the place name Wolvendaal
-When the Dutch came to power in Colombo and suburbs this area was known as Wolvendaal
-The meaning is ‘Valley of wolves’ because the area was frequented by jackals and
misapprehended as wolves
-Christianity was introduced into The Netherlands between 700 and 750 AD.
-The Wolvendaal Church is a living edifice of the Dutch colonial architecture
-Also a monument of the Dutch Christian zeal
-It has been constructed with local material utilizing predominantly local labour-
Certainly with technical skills of the Dutch construction engineers at the time
-It is therefore, a national monument of dual parentage and outstanding example of
combination of two cultures and traditions, the Dutch and the Sri Lankan
-The ground plan of the church is in the shape of a cross
-The church is thus called Kruiskerk in Dutch
-The roof in the center of the building resembles a dome supported by concrete walls of coral
and lime plaster
Wolvendaal Church (contd.)

The site that was selected, was on a hill which commanded views across
the town and over the harbor and was in proximity to the entrance of
the town.
The church was constructed in the Doric style with walls nearly 1.5m (five
(five feet) thick, constructed of unusually large kabok (laterite)
with coral and lime plaster.
The church is capable of seating 1,000 devotees.
Inside the church there is a solidly constructed State Pew (a seat to accommodate
the Dutch governor) with numerous ebony and calamander church
chairs (kerkstoels), dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.
The baptismal font, on an ornately carved tripod stand, dates back to 1667 AD.
Many famous names of 300 year Sri Lankan history: Dutch, Burgher, Singhalese,
Tamil and English can be found amongst the gravestones within and
outside the church.
There are five Dutch Governors buried at the church, including the last
Governor, Johan Gerard Van Angelbeek, who died in Colombo in 1799.
In January 2005 the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) established the
Wolvendaal Foundation.
Its ultimate aim is to further cordial relations between the various races
and religions on the island.
That God has entrusted the church with the message of
reconciliation in and through Jesus Christ, that the church is
called to be the salt of the earth (a very good, honest, kind person or
place) and the light of the world, that the church is called
blessed because it is a peacemaker, that the church is
witness both by word and by deed to the new heaven and
the new earth in which righteousness dwells.
(2 Cor. 5:17-21; Matt. 5:13-16; Matt. 5:9; 2 Peter 3:13; Rev. 21-22).

That God's life-giving Word and Spirit has conquered the powers of
sin and death, and therefore also of non-reconciliation and
hatred, bitterness and enmity, that God's life-giving Word
and Spirit will enable the church to live in a new obedience
which can open new possibilities of life for society and the
world
(Eph. 4:17–6:23, Rom. 6; Col. 1:9-14; Col. 2:13-19; Col. 3:1–4:6);
Wolvendaal Church
 The Floating Market
The floating market is a series of pavilions constructed on the far end of the
restored Beira lake between the Pettah bus station and the railway station
It's supposed to include about 92 stalls in total
This included electronics, clothes, shoes, jewellery, short-eats, kottu, vegetables and
fruits.
It's kind of the stuff you'd find at Majestic City, except you're shopping next to this
glorious lake.
On the west end is the entrance, the Testa Bake House (1), a cool arched iron
bridge (2), and as you head east - electronics (3), clothes, shoes, short-eats
(4), Pettah stuff and fruit stalls (5), and finally a food court (6) surrounded by a
red-tent hangout space.
Boat rides available on weekends (7).
In addition to the private shopping stalls it will also house a number of selected
state institutions that will offer local produce, gems and jewellery etc.
The first of its kind market in the country, the Floating Market will offer people a unique
shopping and dining experience in a beautiful setting
The space is a lot of clean wooden boards, grey floors and red terracotta tiles.
There's no entrance fee, and you can enter the market at either the west or east end,
though the official entrance is on the west side where you get a wood-carved
flanking marked 'The Floating Market' and a pier where you cross over from
the road to the market.
The Floating Market
 National Hospital
-Located in the middle of Colombo City
-The National Hospital is situated in Colombo
in a 32 acre block of land
-It is the largest teaching hospital in Sri Lanka
and the final referral centre in the country
-The hospital consists of 3000 beds for indoor
patients
-This is the training centre for under graduates
and post graduate trainees of the
Faculty of Medicine
-The nurse’s training school, Schools of
Radiography, Pharmacy, Cardiograph,
physiotherapy and occupational
therapy are also affiliated to the
National Hospital
-There are 75 wards, 35 operation theaters for
surgeries and 12 incentive care units
within the hospital
3000 patients have been treated per day by 90
consultants, 1800 doctors and 500 interns
-The hospital service and medicines are free of
charge
 Dawatagaha mosque
-The 190-year-old shrine the resting-place of the Muslim saint, His Holiness Seyedina as-
Sheikh Usman Siddique Ibn Ahdurrahman
-The legend says that in 1820 a Sinhalese woman, oil monger faced a miraculous incident here
-She was helped by an unknown person for her living in this spot when she faced a mishap
-She hurried to the house of Mamma Lebbe in Maradana and related her story of the miracle
to Mamma Lebbe's mother
-A party comprising Mamma Lebbe, Periya Pitche, Meera Kani and the oil monger left for the
spot to investigate and found evidence of the miracle
-They recited Yaseen and Fathiha and prayed: "Oh Vohiyullah (saint)! Praise is to Allah for
having given us the opportunity to bear witness to your miracle. Almighty Allah, may
you reveal to us the identity of this Voliyullah."
-They made a shrine there and the Muslims of the area appointed Maniina Lebbe as their
leader, and Trustee of the shrine (The identity of the saint was unknown at the time)
-In 1847, twenty-seven years after the miracle, there came from Maghrib to this Island a
divine, Sheikh Ali Jahbarooth Moulana
-He identified the saint, who helped the oil woman as Seyed Usman Siddiq Ibn Abdurahman,
one who came to this Island on a pilgrimage to Adam's Peak
and after living in the vicinity for some time, and died here
-Then Jahbarooth Moulana told those assembled, "We shall recite Kaththam Fathiha for the
ten days of this month of Zulqadha every year in the saint's memory and distribute "niyath."
-This practice is still functioning
Dawatagaha mosque
 Colombo Municipal Council
The Colombo Municipal Council is the local
council for the administration of
the Colombo city
The council was formed in 1865 1st met in 1866
The municipal council is the oldest and the
largest local government authority
in Sri Lanka
As at 2001, covers a resident population of
over 600,000
It has 53 elected representatives and over
12,000 employees
Mayor of Colombo and the council members
are elected through local govt.,
elections held once in four years
Head of administration is the Municipal
Commissioner, who handles day to
day operations of the 16
departments that it is made up of
The building of the council is a model of the
Capitol building in Washington DC in USA
 Victoria Park in Colombo
Today the Victoria Park is known as the Viharamahadevi Park
It is a public park located in Colombo next to the National Museum in Sri Lanka
Front view is the colonial-style ‘Town Hall’ building,
The park is named after Queen Viharamahadevi, the mother of King Dutugamunu.
The park was built during the British rule, and was originally named "Victoria Park"
after Queen Victoria
The park features include a huge Buddha statue and a series of water fountains
It also includes a mini zoo and a pleasure garden for children
The Park is the only large-scale public park in Colombo
It is maintained by the Colombo Municipal Council
Established in 1866 in an area of 100 acres, but today reduced to 40 acres
Those days this was known as Circular Garden
In 1887 renamed as Victoria Park to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen
Victoria
Again changed the name in 1956 as Viharamahadevi Park
The famous open air theater was commenced in 1939, is a venue for concerts and
public events
 Colombo Racecourse
Colombo Racecourse was a harness racing course in Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo
The Colombo Turf Club was based here with its own pavilion and club house next to the
grand stand. The Colombo Racecourse: A New Beginning Without Horses!
120-year-old Colombo Racecourse, & it was decided to make it the centre of another
sport complex while preserving the British classic-style architecture of the
grandstand,
During the second world war, it was used as a temporary airfield
In 2012 it was redeveloped as the Colombo Racecourse Sports Complex to become the
first International Rugby Union ground in Sri Lanka to host all the national
rugby union sides home macthes.
In 2014 the ground went through a major renovation, which included installation of
floodlights and the conversion of a substantial part of the grandstand into a
shopping and dining complex.
This pristine white building is an excellent example of British classic-style colonial
architecture.
It has fine ornamental detail adorning the façade, exquisite windows, and large circular
skylights.
Along the side facing the street there is a corridor obscured by an impressive colonnade
with triple columns, of which the large racing rooms were located.
Now they have been renovated into shops
Colombo Racecourse
Colombo Racecourse
 Nelum Pokuna Theater
Earlier the premises was the Nomad Ground and the theatre opened on 15 December 2011
Building covers 14,000 square metres of floor area and the height is 29m
This is a gift from the Chinese Government
The construction work was done by Yang Jiyang Institute in China
Total cost is little more than Rupees 3 billion, Government of the People's Republic of China provided
LKR 2430 million out of the total cost of the building
Often known simply as Nelum Pokuna Theatre; previously the National Performing Arts Theatre, prior
to naming at the opening ceremony
Then renamed as Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre, in honour of the president of Sri Lanka
The architecture of the building is inspired by the 12th-century Nelum Pokuna
(Lotus Pond) in Polonnaruwa built by King Parakramabahu the Great
Polonnaruwa, Nelum Pokuna is shaped as a stylized eight-petalled lotus flower
The theatre is equipped with ultra-modern facilities such as an auditorium with 1,288 seats a library,
and training facilities with sophisticated sound systems
The building features two permanent theatres
—the main auditorium and an open-air theatre—
and the ability to convert the front steps into an additional open-air theatre
The 690-square-metre moving stage in the auditorium includes the ability to raise and lower the
orchestra pit to and from stage level
500 bulbs to illuminate the main stage
18 microphones within the range of amp 50-200 with modern sound technology
Three events or dramas could be performed simultaneously
There are facilities to conduct educational and research activities
This is one of the best Art Galleries out of 70 Art Galleries in the world
Three vehicle parks for 600 vehicles, is also available
Nelum Pokuna Theater
Nelum Pokuna at Polonnaruwa
 Independent Square and the building
Independence Commemoration Hall is a national monument
Built for commemoration of the independence of Sri Lanka from
the British in February 4, 1948
It is located at the Independence Square (formally Torrington
Square) in the Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo
The building was built at the location where the formal
ceremony held of independent rule
The first parliament was opened by the HRH Prince Henry, Duke
of Gloucester
This occurred at a special podium in this place on February 4,
1948
Located at the head of the monument is the statue of the first
prime minister of the country
Rt. Hon. Don Stephen Senanayake "The Father of the Nation"
Most of the annual National Independence Day celebrations
have been held here
Currently it is the venue for religious events and annual national
day celebrations
Built and based on the Magul Maduwa (Celebration Hall), the
Royal audience hall of the Kingdom of Kandy
On March 2, 1815 the Kandyan Convention was signed between
the British and the Kandyian Chieftains ending the
Kingdom of Kandy in the Magul Maduwa
Independent memorial building is a model of that historical
building
The building is decorated with most of the artistic patterns and
objects of the ancient Sri Lanka
 ARCADE INDEPENDENCE SQUARE
Refurbished building complex with arches and shops on both sides
Govt. says the capital city of Colombo develops to become the wonder city of
Asia.
Arcade - Independence Square, an iconic landmark is added to Sri Lanka’s
spectacular landscape.
Kolomthota or Colombo is our main commercial city.
From ancient times, and the Portuguese, Dutch and British eras in Sri Lanka,
all Social, Economic and Political activities of Sri Lankans have been
centered on the Colombo Port.
The Urban Development Authority has transformed Colombo into the fastest
growing city of Asia.
The old Auditor General's building was constructed during British rule.
This building was in a dilapidated state without proper maintenance over a
long period of time.
With its financial contribution and architectural advice, the Urban
Development Authority has been able to make a distinctive
reconstruction with the assistance of Sri Lanka Navy.
Shining a new light on the Independence Square, This shopping complex is
presented to the people, a boost to the progress of the Tourism
Industry and one of the landmark projects of the Colombo City
Development.
Independence Arcade
 BMICH (Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall)
Out right gift from Chinese Govt. for Sri Lanka-
China friendship
For international conferences, plenary sessions,
trade & academic shows, exhibitions, beauty
pageants and musical & drama events
The octagonal shape of the building is in accord
with traditions of Sri Lanka's indigenous
architecture
The extent of the premises is 37 acres
Raw material and the technology are both from
China
4 storyed building with 90 rooms
The main hall covers 650 Sq m with 2000 seating
capacity
A cinema hall for 200 spectators
Sirimavo Bandaranaike exhibition hall established
in 2003
A parliament act was passed to manage the
complex in 1975 by the name of ‘BMICH
Foundation’
The catering of any event in BMICH is done only
by Mount Lavinia Hotel
Within the complex, Hotel, Police post, Post Office
and Bank facilities also provided
 Buddha Statue opposite the BMICH
This is a replica of the Buddha
statue at Avukana close to
Kalaweva in Anuradhapura
Avukana statue is carved out of the
existing granite rock, but
this one is a masonry work
with cement, lime and sand
with concrete structure
The height of Avukana statue is
11.36m
According to Prof. Paranavithana the
Avukana statue was
constructed during the 8th
century
Buddha’s right hand depicts the
Abhaya Mudra or the
posture of fearlessness
This was built according to nine
faces proportion described
by the text ‘Sadhanamala’
 Planetarium
One can see the night sky during the day
time in the Planetarium
This was constructed to adorn the general
exhibition in 1965
The whole building was locally design by
the world renowned architect &
civil Engineer Dr. D.S.Kulasinghe
They use the East Germany projector to
show for 25,000 years in past and
25,000 years in future
The seating capacity is 570, but starts a
show with at least 50 participants
The show duration is one and a half hours
Whatever technologies are used, the
objective is normally to link them
together to provide an accurate
relative motion of the sky
Typical systems can be set to display the
sky at any point in time, past or
present
Often to show the night sky as it would
appear from any point of latitude on Earth
 Colombo University

The University of Colombo (informally Colombo University or UoC) is a public research

university
Located primarily in Colombo 7, Sri Lanka
The oldest institution of modern higher education in Sri Lanka
It is also the largest and oldest university in the island
Specialized in the fields of natural, social, and applied sciences, mathematics, computer
sciences, law and medicine
It is ranked among the top 10 universities in South Asia
The University of Colombo was founded in 1921 as University College Colombo
It was affiliated to the University of London
Degrees were issued to its students from 1923 onwards
The university traces its roots to 1870 when the Ceylon Medical School was established
UoC has produced notable alumni in the fields of medicine, science, law, economics,
business, literature, and politics
The university is a state university
Most of its funding coming from the central government via the University Grants
Commission
Its motto is "Buddhih Sarvatra Bhrajate", which means "Wisdom shines forth
everywhere" in Sanskrit
Over 10,000 internal students attend University of Colombo
Others follow external degree programs conducted by the university
Colombo University
 Fort Railway Station
Fort Railway Station is a major rail hub in
Colombo
The present Fort Station was opened in 1917,
as a new central station for Colombo
Fort Station is a couple of kilometers away
from Maradana junction Station,
This is the major rail station in Colombo
The first train trip was on 27th of December
1864 from Colombo to Ambepussa
In 1867 extended up to Kandy
The Fort Railway Station is a model of the
Railway Station in Manchester in England
The iron arches and pillars to construct the
station were brought from England
There are 10 platforms and functions 300
train trips per day
Today the entire lengths of the railway line
are approximately 1200km
Train users are nearly 300,000 passengers per
day
Thank You