Sri Lanka / Colombo / History

Colombo’s origins go back many centuries when it was a flourishing seaport attracting seafarers from Cathay, Persia and Morocco to trade in pearls, precious stones, elephants, peacocks, cinnamon and other spices. In the 14th century A.D lbn Batuta described it as the best town on the island of Serendib.

Kotte, on the southeast fringe of Colombo had been the capital of a major Sinhalese kingdom in the pre-colonial era. After its establishment as Ceylon’s capital by the British and the creation of a harbour in the 1870’s which surpassed that at Galle, Colombo rapidly rose to prominence as Sri Lanka’s major city.

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