SRI LANKA - Colombo

The largest city of Sri Lanka, Colombo is the commercial and financial capital of the country. Even though the administrative capital has shifted, Colombo is still referred to as the capital of Sri Lanka since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, is a satellite city of Colombo and most probably because the name is so long.


From Galle, I journeyed on to Colombo.


Passed by some interesting buildings.



I have arrived at the bustling city of Colombo.


To be exact, I’m now at Galle Face, a promenade along the coast in the heart of the financial and business district of Colombo. 


It is a popular destination for vendors, families, teenagers and kite flyers who want to indulge their favourite pastime next to the sea under the open sky.


From here, you can have a good view of two of the most recognized landmark of Colombo: The Twin World Trade Centre and the Bank of Ceylon tower.


The promenade was previously used for horse racing and as a golf course.


Now, the land is busy with day trippers, picnickers and food vendors.



The flag of Sri Lanka is also called the Lion Flag.


Hmmm….wonder why there are so many people at the jetty. 


City by the sea.


Time to make a move.


The busy streets of Colombo.


Just adjacent to Galle Face Green, is the Old Parliament Building facing the ocean.


First used by the British as a meeting area for the Legislative Council in 1930.


The building was subsequently used by the State Council (1931-1947), House of Representative (1947-1972), National State Assembly (1972-1977) and the Parliament of Sri Lanka (1977-1981).


The Parliament has since been relocated and today, the Old Parliament Building  is used by the Presidential Secretariat.
 

The Cargills & Millers building.


Sri Sambuddhaloka Vihara.


The Colombo Town Hall.


Sure looks like the White House.


The Town Hall houses the Colombo Municipal Council and is the office of Colombo’s mayor.


Construction begun in 1924 and was completed in 1927.


Buddhist TV building. 


The Buddhist TV is the first Buddhist television channel for Sri Lanka.


The Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall.


Constructed from 1970 till 1973, the convention center was a gift from China in memory of Solomon Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike, former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (1956-1959) who was assassinated by a Buddhist monk in 1959.


A police guarding the entrance. There was a major refurbishment of the convention center at that time to welcome some minister from China in the coming months.


The friendly police asking me if I wanted to enter. He opened the gates for a quick picture. He must have thought I’m from China. 


Just opposite the Conference Hall, is the replica of the Avukana Buddha statue.


Standing at 36 feet tall, this is the largest statue in the city of Colombo.


The last stop while I was in Colombo is the Independence Memorial Hall.


The statue of the first prime minister of Sri Lanka, Rt. Hon. Don Stephen Senanayake also known as ‘The Father of the Nation’ is located at the front of the Memorial Hall.


The building looked kind of familiar. It was actually built based on the Royal Audience Hall in Kandy. In 1815, the Kandyan Convention was signed between the British and Kandyian Chieftains, ending the Kingdom of Kandy.

The building in Kandy symbolises the beginning of British rule in Sri Lanka, while this building in Colombo symbolises the end for the British and a new chapter for the Sri Lankans.   


The Independence Memorial Hall was built at the location where there was a formal ceremony marking the start of self-rule, with the opening of the first parliament at the special podium on 4th February 1948 at the present Independence Square.  


The Independence Memorial Hall is located at the Independence Square in the Cinnamon Gardens. 





Walk around the Memorial Hall, took some pictures and it’s time to leave.


Time for dinner! Ate at the 168 Seafood Palace in Colombo 3 which serves Chinese food.


Since we’re in Sri Lanka, I wouldn’t miss out on the world famous Sri Lankan crabs. Ordered the biggest crab available. One weighed 1.4 kg while the other at 1.2kg.


People began starring at our food we ordered, as if we haven’t eaten for a week.


Just look at the huge claws! Needless to say, the food was excellent! The best crabs I ever had and the price is reasonable or I might say cheap.


After dinner, I proceed to Mount Lavinia. When I was told that I would spend the night in Mount Lavinia, I thought I will be staying at the mountains. Mount Lavinia is actually famous for its beach located at the suburban area of Colombo. The ‘Golden Mile’ beach is the hot spot for tourism and laid back night life. There is a row of restaurants along the beach serving food and drinks while you enjoy the cool breeze.

Stroll along the beach and later had some drinks at Golden Mile Beach Restaurant before returning to the hotel.


Spotted the Tata Nano car. It's the cheapest car in the world at approximately USD 3,000. It's the first time I have seen this car in person and the car is extremely small. I don’t think my beau can even fit into the car.


Berjaya Hotel Colombo is located in Mount Lavinia, near the beach. This will be my last night in Sri Lanka.


My beau with the tour guide. Bid the guide farewell and just for info, I booked the tour through www.miraclesrilanka.com.


If you haven’t bought any souvenirs, this is your last chance to buy some at the airport.
 

Don’t forget to buy some Noritake tableware. I actually wanted to buy it in Colombo, but it was too expensive. The items sold in Noritake outlet shop in the airport was actually much cheaper.

Noritake was first established in Japan in 1904, and as Noritake Lanka Porcelain’s parent company, the quality produced by their Sri Lanka counterpart can match that of produced in Japan. Because of their cheaper price many tourist often purchase a Noritake product before heading back home. 


Sri Lanka has so much to offer to travellers visiting this beautiful country. I surely was impressed by the historical ruins of Polonnaruwa, impregnable Sigiriya Fortress, mystical Cave Temples of Dambulla, sacred city of Kandy, picturesque Nuwara Eliya, beautiful Horton Plains, bustling city of Colombo and the wonderful beaches of Sri Lanka.

With beautiful beaches and 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in a small country, Sri Lanka is definitely a country not to be missed.


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