Situated on the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka, Colombo is the largest city and the commercial hub of the country. Colombo is located just 30 km away from the Bandaranaike International Airport while the city is also within close proximity to Sri Jayawardenepura-Kotte the administrative capital of the country. Home to more than 2 million residents, Colombo is also home to a majority of the country's corporate offices, hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues.

Colombo is a derivative of 'Kola-amba-thota', which means 'mango harbour'. The history of this vivacious city dates back nearly 2000 years, when the Muslims handled trade between Sri Lanka (known as Serendib) and rest of the world. The importance of Colombo was further enhanced when the British conquered the entire island and marked the city as the capital of Ceylon. Although the country's capital city was changed to Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, many still consider Colombo to be Sri Lanka's capital.

Although the city of Colombo is not Sri Lanka's most scenic city in terms of natural beauty, it does have its fair share of parks and water features. The Galle Face Green is ideal for an evening stroll, while watching the sunset, and for fun and games there is no better place in town than the Viharamahadevi Park. National zoological gardens feature a variety of animals, birds as well as a large aquarium. Catch a glimpse of the fascinating history of Sri Lanka at the National Museum, located in the heart of Colombo.

Colombo is undoubtedly the island's premier city for shopping - with numerous shopping malls and trendy boutiques, located within a few kilometres from one another. The city is teeming with restaurants serving a variety of cuisine ranging from spicy local dishes to international favourites. As the day ends, Colombo's nightlife comes alive and party lovers are seen dancing till dawn.

For more information on Sri Lanka, be sure to visit the Sri Lanka Leisure Guide