50 Interesting Facts About Colombo, Sri Lanka

(Last Updated On: April 16, 2021)

There are several interesting facts about Colombo. In fact, Colombo is a mix of modern business blocks, colonial buildings, temples and flats, and a smashing of houses. The city follows rural, slow-paced Sri Lanka with shopping, fine dining, and overnight nightlife as opposed to the city.

Travelers can spend time on beach vacations to travel to the capital to visit Buddhist centers, beautiful parks, and interesting museums. It is a cosmopolitan city with many cultures, which is why it attracts tourists from all over the world. Let’s find out some interesting facts about Colombo:

Interesting facts about Colombo

Lipton Tea was based in Sri Lanka. Lipton tea was constructed by a Scottish man named Sir Thomas Lipton? He brought the tea plantation in Sri Lanka in 1890.

The Sri Lankan flag has a golden lion on it and maybe very colorful. The flag is without doubt one of the oldest on the earth. The sword the lion is holding was added in 1948 once they achieved independence.

St. Paul’s Church Milagiriya, one of many oldest church buildings in Sri Lanka, first constructed by the Portuguese and rebuilt by the British in 1848, which is one of the interesting facts about Colombo.

The official languages of Sri Lanka are Sinhalese and Tamil. You will see most signal postages in these two languages together with English as it’s spoken extensively within the nation.

The two World Trade Center towers – completed in 1997 – are essentially the most acknowledged landmarks of the city.

Cricket is the nationwide sport of Sri Lanka. As a British Colony, this sport is performed extensively within the nation and the nation principally involves a halt when recreation is on. I used to be there when the NZ Black Caps had been taking part in Sri Lanka and it was numerously enjoyable to joke about who was going to win.

In 1796, the British captured Colombo, holding it as a British navy outpost till 1815 when Colombo was named the capital of the newly-created British Ceylon crown colony.

The first female prime minister ever was the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. Back in 1060, Sirimavo Bandaranaike served Sri Lanka for 3 nonconsecutive phrases and a complete of 18 years.

Cricket is the most well-liked sport in Sri Lanka and is performed in parks, playgrounds, beaches, and the streets of Colombo. The nation won the 1996 Cricket World Cup and positioned second in 2007 and 2011.

Opened in December 2011, the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theater was designed to mirror a Lotus Pond in Polonnaruwa, the royal historical metropolis of central Sri Lanka.

Around the central plains of Sri Lanka close to Kandy you’ll find rolling hills of tea plantations. Sri Lanka produces 20% of the worlds’ tea. The nation is the fourth-largest producer of tea after China, India, and Kenya.

Adam’s Peak is essentially the most sacred place in Sri Lanka. It is fashionable to climb the two,243 meters mountain within the central highland area. Also referred to as Sri Pada, the mountain is a vital pilgrimage site. The Buddhists declare the footprint of Buddha could be discovered there, Hindus imagine the footprint belonged to Lord Shiva, and Christians imagine its Adam’s first step after he left the Garden of Eden.

Sri Lanka’s Ceylon tea is world-famous, however, within the 1860s Sri Lanka was the world’s largest espresso producer. Only after an epidemic struck the espresso plantations did the British colonists convert them to tea.

Red bananas are discovered all through the nation and are stated to be a natural Viagra. Red bananas are pure and it is just their peel or pores and skin that’s pink. I attempted them and I’ve to say they’re the right snack measurement and actually candy. The flesh of the banana continues to be the same however the bananas are fairly small.

The Portuguese got full authority over the shoreline in change for promising to guard it in opposition to invaders. The Portuguese quickly established a buying and selling submit in Colombo, constructed a fort in 1517, and expelled the Muslim inhabitants, which is one of the interesting facts about Colombo.

You can even discover pink rice in Sri Lanka which is a staple within the weight-reduction plan there, which is one of the interesting facts about Colombo.

Sigiriya is without doubt one of the high vacationer points of interest in Sri Lanka. It is claimed to be the eighth surprise of the world, which is one of the interesting facts about Colombo. Sigiriya is an ancient rock fortress situated within the Golden Triangle of the nation close to Dambulla Caves and Polonnaruwa. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and you’ll climb to the highest in lower than 3 hours. At the highest, you will note there are lions paws carved out guarding the very high. Climb the close by PIDURANGALA ROCK to get improbable views of Sigiriya.

Sri Lanka has one of many highest literacy charges in South East Asia at 92% of the inhabitants who are literate.

Sri Lanka is the world’s largest cinnamon producer and accounts for about 70 percent of worldwide manufacturing.

Sri Lanka has over 100 waterfalls throughout the nation. The largest is Bambarakande Falls which is close to Colombo at 363 meters tall. There are lovely waterfalls that may be discovered close to Nuwara, World’s End, and Kandy.

Colombo is the most important metropolis of the island nation of Sri Lanka within the northern Indian Ocean off the Southern Coast of India. Sri Lanka was previously referred to as Ceylon till 1972, which is one of the interesting facts about Colombo.

Since historical instances, Sri Lanka was identified for its cinnamon. The nation nonetheless produces 80 to 90 p.c of the world provide of C.verum cinnamon.

Anuradhapura is without doubt one of the historical capitals of Sri Lanka – there are about 20 of them in Sri Lanka. It is a UNESCO World Heritage web site and lies 200 kilometers north of Colombo. This was the primary capital of Sri Lanka and was based on King Pandukahabaya in 380 B.C.

The oldest tree ever planted is situated in Anuradhapura. Sri Maha Bodhi was planted in Anuradhapura by Princess Sangamitta from a slicing she introduced over from India. This is the oldest dwelling tree on the earth courting again 2,000 years.

World’s End or Horton’s Plains is about 30 kilometers from Nuwara Eliya in central Sri Lanka. It is situated in a National Park and referred to as World’s End as a result of it’s a cliff that falls 4,000 meters searching on the Indian Ocean and other people thought it was the world’s finish. The Sri Lankan civil warfare lasted for 25 years and the battle of Jaffna was in 1995.

With its cinnamon provide and a big, deep pure harbor strategically positioned alongside East-West commerce routes, Colombo was identified to and valued by Indians, Greeks, Persians, Romans, Arabs, and Chinese merchants greater than 2,000 years in the past.

The capital metropolis is Colombo and the worldwide airport there’s referred to as Bandaranaike International Airport situated about 30 minutes outside of Colombo.

Sri Lanka was once referred to as Ceylon and gained its independence from the British in 1948 when it was named the Dominion of Ceylon after which grew to become the Republic of Sri Lanka in 1972.

The forex is the Sri Lankan rupee. Sri Lanka is a really inexpensive nation to journey in and you’ll simply spend lower than $50USD per day.

Ayurveda remedies are extremely popular in Sri Lanka. Ayurveda is the holistic therapy of illnesses with soils and vegetation as an alternative to pharmaceutical medication. They additionally use therapeutic massage to improve ailments and you will discover resorts and clinics across the nation specializing in Ayurveda.

Sri Lanka is without a doubt one of the greatest locations to go on safari in Asia. The Nationals Parks – Yala and Minnerwa are nice locations to see wildlife comparable to elephants, leopards, deer, and several other species of birds. Elephants are all over the place in Sri Lanka and we even saw one on the street whereas driving from Colombo to the Golden Triangle. Please do be aware – don’t journey the elephants.

Ceylon gained independence from Britain in 1948, ushering in a brand new tradition together with adjustments in legal guidelines, customs, clothes kinds, religions, and household names.

The plugin sockets in Sri Lanka are attention-grabbing, to say the least. British footsteps as well as European spherical plug and the Indian three-prong to be seen here.

Uber is ample in Colombo and you’ll even strive the PickMe app for taxis. And after all, don’t forget about the tuk-tuks which can take you cheaply around the city. If Colombo is just not your seen strive Negombo which is a lot quieter beachside city.

The British started establishing homes and different civilian buildings across the fort, creating the premise for the current-day metropolis of Colombo.

The 160-acre Lake Beira is within the heart of Colombo. During the Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial eras, Lake Beira was used to move items inside the metropolis and surrounding cities via many intricate canals.

The Portuguese resisted the Dutch however had been stepped by step defeated of their strongholds. After an epic siege in 1656, the Dutch captured Colombo.

Initially, the Dutch gave the captured space again to the Sinhalese kings, however later reneged and took control over the island’s richest cinnamon lands together with Colombo. Colombo was named the capital of Dutch Ceylon beneath the management of the Dutch East India Company.

Sri Lanka is a protected nation to go to as a solo female traveler, which is one of the interesting facts about Colombo.

Muslim Moor merchants started to settle in Colombo within the eighth century AD, drawn as a result of the port facilitated their buying and selling enterprise between the native Sinhalese kingdoms and the surface world. Today, their descendants make up the native Sri Lankan Moor group.

When Englishman Sir Henry Ward created the Galle Face Green promenade in 1859, it was additionally used for horse racing and as a golf course. Today’s smaller Galle Face Green is hooked up to Sri Lanka’s first five-star lodge – the Ceylon Inter-Continental — and in addition to the nations’ oldest lodge — the Galle Face Hotel referred to as Asia’s Emerald on the Green since 1864.

By 1593, the Portuguese established full management over the coastal space, with Colombo as their capital. Today, this part of Colombo continues to be referred to as Fort and homes the presidential palace and the vast majority of Colombo’s high lodges.

In 1638 the Dutch signed a treaty with King Rajasinha II of Kandy giving the king help in his warfare in opposition to the Portuguese in change for a monopoly of the island’s main commerce items.

Portuguese explorers first arrived in Sri Lanka in 1505, putting a treaty with the King that allowed them to commerce the islands’ crop of cinnamon, which lay together with the coastal areas of the island, together with within Colombo.

Colombo is the commercial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka. It is the financial center of the island and a popular tourist destination. It is adjacent to the west coast of the island and Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of the Legislative Assembly of Sri Lanka.

The name “Colombo” was first introduced by the Portuguese in 1505. The name “Colombo” is believed to derive from the classical Sinhalese name meaning “on the banks of the river Kelani”.

Gangaram Bihar is one of the most respected temples in the country. The temple is adorned with magnificent brass work, stone carving, and other Buddhist art. Inside it is also a museum. Learn about Meiji Jingu Temple.

Royal Colombo Golf Club is a sanctuary in the center of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Founded 5 years ago, it is the second oldest Royal Golf Club in the UK. It has attracted golfers around the world for more than a century.

One of Sri Lanka’s best-kept secrets is the shopping area in Colombo – filled with boutiques filled with international brands, local art and clothing, designer clothing, footwear and handbags, plastic handicrafts, home furnishings, and more.

MT Lavinia is one of Colombo’s more laidback suburbs filled with great seafood restaurants on the Gold Coast and named after Gypsy dance girl Lavinia, who has a secret romance with a Sri Lankan governor.

Colombo National Museum, Sri Lanka National Museum is one of Colombo’s two museums. It is Sri Lanka’s largest museum. The museum has a magnificent display of artwork, antique paintings, and a library inside.

One of Colombo’s most spectacular sights is on an island east of the lake. It is a meditation center designed by Jeffrey Bawa in 1985 and is run by the Gangaram Temple. The view is even more beautiful when the lights are lit at night.

In Colombo, there is a place called Pettah, with colorful textures, gold silver, and colon a road puzzle of every description, from ancient antiquities to the colonial era. What you are looking for in Colombo is available in Peta. A must-visit for all visitors!

Since ancient times, Colombo, Sri Lanka has been known for its cinnamon, especially sevarium cinnamon, in which the country still produces 3-5 percent of the world supply.

In fact, there are still remnants of these colonial periods. For example, Cinnamon Gardens – this is currently a rich residential area and home to the Prime Minister’s Office, where the Dutch raised cinnamon spices in the mid-17th century.

Colombo has the largest artificial gun in the world. Most of the country’s foreign trade passes through ports. Cutting the gem is a Colombo specialty; Other industries in Colombo are food and tobacco processing, metal fabrication, chemicals, and jewelry manufacturing.

The average high in March is 90 degrees Fahrenheit and the average low for March is 75 ° F. This average varies only a few degrees per month.