Colombo is the largest city in Sri Lanka and is a bustling and vibrant city with a mixture of modern life and colonial buildings & ruins. It was made the capital when Sri Lanka was wholly taken over by the British in 1815. Colombo was known to ancient traders 2,000 years ago and the name "Colombo" which was first introduced by the Portuguese in 1505 is believed to be named after Christopher Columbus.
Even though Ceylon gained independence from Britain in 1948, the influence of the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British is clearly visible in Colombo's architecture, names, clothing, food, language and attitudes. Buildings from all three eras stand in their glory as reminders of the turbulent past of Colombo. The city and its people show an interesting mix of European clothing and lifestyles together with local customs. Colombo is blessed with many hidden secrets such as little known beach restaurants, idyllic beaches and coves, a myriad of restaurants and many many more. A gem of a place to visit!