Colombo is the executive and judicial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,632 |
30 Facts About Colombo
2.
Colombo is a busy and vibrant city with a mixture of modern life, colonial buildings and monuments.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,633 |
3.
In 1978, when administrative functions were moved to Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Colombo was designated as the commercial capital of Sri Lanka.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,634 |
4.
Unlike the Portuguese and Dutch before them, whose primary use of Colombo was as a military fort, the British began constructing houses and other civilian structures around the fort, giving rise to the current City of Colombo.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,635 |
5.
Historically, Colombo referred to the area around the Fort and Pettah Market which is known for the variety of products available as well as the Khan Clock Tower, a local landmark.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,636 |
6.
The lake is one of the most distinctive landmarks of Colombo and was used for centuries by colonists to defend the city.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,637 |
7.
The Northern and North-Eastern border of the city of Colombo is formed by the Kelani River, which meets the sea in a part of the city known as the Modera which means river delta.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,638 |
8.
The population of Colombo is a mix of numerous ethnic groups, mainly Sinhalese, Sri Lankan Tamils and Sri Lankan Moor.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,639 |
9.
Colombo is the most populous city in Sri Lanka, with 642,163 people living within the city limits.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,640 |
10.
Colombo was the capital of the coastal areas controlled by the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British from the 1700s to 1815 when the British gained control of the entire island following the Kandyan convention.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,641 |
11.
Colombo is divided into 15 numbered areas for the purposes of postal services.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,642 |
12.
Great majority of Sri Lankan corporations have their head offices in Colombo including Aitken Spence, Ceylinco Corporation, Stassen group of companies, John Keells Holdings, Cargills, Hemas Holdings and Akbar Brothers.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,643 |
13.
Colombo Harbour is the largest and one of the busiest ports in Sri Lanka.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,644 |
14.
Colombo was established primarily as a port city during the colonial era, with an artificial harbour that has been expanded over the years.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,645 |
16.
Colombo has an extensive public transport system based on buses operated both by private operators and the government-owned Sri Lanka Transport Board.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,647 |
17.
Post-war development in the Colombo area involves the construction of numerous expressway grade arterial road routes.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,648 |
18.
Cannons that were once mounted on the rampart of the old fort of Colombo were laid out for observance and prestige at the Green, giving a colonial touch to the city.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,649 |
19.
Colombo has many of the prominent public schools in the country, some of them government-owned and others private.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,650 |
20.
Colombo has many International Schools that have come up in recent years.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,651 |
21.
The first step in the creation of a university in Colombo was taken in 1913 with the establishment of the University College Colombo which prepared students for the external examinations of the University of London.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,652 |
22.
Colombo has widely varying architecture that spans centuries and depicts many styles.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,653 |
23.
Colombo is generally very busy on the eve of the festivals as people do their last-minute shopping.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,654 |
24.
Several old clubs of the city give a glimpse of the British equestrian lifestyle; these include the Colombo Club, Orient Club, the 80 Club, and the Colombo Cricket Club.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,655 |
25.
Colombo has several performing arts centres, which are popular for their musical and theatrical performances, including the Lionel Wendt Theatre, the Elphinstone, and Tower Hall, all of which were made for western-style productions.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,656 |
26.
Colombo is the home for two of the country's most popular international cricket stadiums, Singhalese Sports Club's Cricket Stadium and R Premadasa Stadium.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,657 |
28.
Colombo has its local football team Colombo FC and the sport is being developed as a part of the FIFA Goal program.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,659 |
29.
Colombo Marathon is an internationally recognised marathon established in 1998.
| FactSnippet No. 1,945,660 |