Facts About Colombo
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Colombo is the commercial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population.
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The biggest and oldest park in Colombo is the Viharamahadevi Park, formerly known as Victoria Park, and features a large Buddha statue.
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Colombo Marathon is an internationally recognised marathon established in 1998.
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Colombo was known to ancient traders 2,000 years ago.
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In 1796, the British captured Colombo, keeping it as a British military outpost until 1815 when Colombo was named the capital of the newly-created British Ceylon crown colony.
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Colombo is divided into 15 numbered areas for the purposes of postal services.
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The Vesak festival is Colombo’s most beautiful festival is the celebration of Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death all falling on the same day.
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The Colombo has many canals and, in the heart of the city, the 65-hectare Beira Lake.
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National Museum of Colombo is the largest museum in Sri Lanka.
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Colombo is also the administrative capital of the Western Province and the district capital of Colombo District.
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Muslim Moor traders began to settle in Colombo in the 8th century AD.
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Colonial buildings influenced by the Portuguese, Dutch and British exist alongside structures built in Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, Indian and Contemporary architectural styles.
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The name ‘Colombo’, first introduced by the Portuguese in 1505, is believed to be derived from the classical Sinhala name කොලොන් තොට Kolon thota, meaning “port on the river Kelani”.
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Founded in 1880, The Royal Colombo Golf Club is a sanctuary situated in the heart of Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is the second oldest Royal Golf Club.
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Colombo Harbour is the largest and one of the busiest ports in Sri Lanka.
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The National Museum of Colombo, established on 1 January 1877 during the tenure of the British Colonial Governor Sir William Henry Gregory, is in the Cinnamon Gardens area.
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The estimated Population of Colombo is 752,993.
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Colombo features a tropical monsoon climate under the Köppen climate classification, falling just short of a tropical rainforest climate.
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Colombo is twinned with: Biratnagar, Nepal; Saint Petersburg, Russia; Shanghai, China; Leeds, United Kingdom; Ulan Bator, Mongolia; Malé, Maldives & Maroshi, Maldives.
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Colombo is the home for two of the country’s most popular international cricket stadiums: Colombo Cricket Club Ground & Sinhalese Sports Club Ground.