Colombo

Colombo

Colombo (/kəˈlʌmboʊ/; Sinhala: කොළඹ, romanized: Kolamba, pronunciation: [ˈkəlɐmbɞ]; Tamil: கொழும்பு, romanized: Koḻumpu, pronunciation: [koɻumbu]) is the commercial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population.

Etymology

The name "Colombo", first introduced by the Portuguese in 1505, is believed to be derived from the classical Sinhalese name Kolamba (meaning 'port' or 'harbour'), which is derived from the Sinhalese words kola (leaves) and amba (mango tree), referring to the mango trees that lined the Kolamba River.

Related Terms

• Sri Lanka: An island country in South Asia, located in the Indian Ocean southwest of the Bay of Bengal and southeast of the Arabian Sea. It is geographically separated from the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait.
• Kolamba River: A river in Sri Lanka that flows through the city of Colombo.
• Portuguese in Sri Lanka: The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in Sri Lanka, landing in the mid-15th century. They ruled the coastal areas of the island for over 150 years before being ousted by the Dutch.

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