Colombo - a rising star in South Asia

by Prof. Bernard W. Dissanayake

The port-city of Colombo, developed by the British was the centre of export - import trading and as political capital of colonial administration of the British Raj in then Ceylon. Many place names and street names that one sees today in Colombo remind us of that past colonial experience. Some things of that history are to be seen in Colombo city even today. What is more interesting is the buildings the British built, that adorn the city today. Of the old colonial buildings that one sees today in Colombo, are the admirable and eye-catching National Museum and its neighbour the grand Town Hall, facing a well laid out large park, then named Victoria, now Vihara Maha Devi Park. Efforts made to preserve them and improve their image by the UDA are indeed praiseworthy.

National Museum Colombo

All these elegant colonial buildings the British had constructed were designed to satisfy functionally the particular objectives and to cater to the needs of much smaller population of the time. Given this fact, it conveys to a careful observer something profound to reflect upon today. These buildings appear solid and elegant and seem to represent the power, dignity and of course the grace of doing things.

The British architects and engineers might have been well aware of what the ancestors of Sinhalese constructed out of solid granite, rocks, caves and simple earth and delivered to people for use, in the citadels of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and elsewhere. They had lasted for centuries and some even today being used by people. Appreciating such things was not strange to our people then as now. The art and architecture of a civilisation of a people, express not only their talents and skills but also their values and higher thinking.

History

Colombo’s ancient name was Kolonthota, indicating its history as a port in ancient times. Being strategically located close to developing east-west shipping routes in the Indian Ocean, it developed into a port city, since the 16th century with the expansion of European trading interests in Asian region. It attracted foreign visitors for spice trading and later for colonisation and rule. The British were the last to come and remained in the island for well over one and a half centuries making a major impact in the country.

The geographical setting of the city itself is interesting and easily attracts visitors. The major river Kelani that flows into the sea nearby has created relatively flat flood planes for easy urban development and settlements. This, together with flat coastal area to the south and north of Colombo port permit urban cost effective development and housing with enhanced scenic value.

The gentle tropical climate prevailing in the region provides a further value added preposition to live and work in the area. There is also a crop of low hills surrounding the city, offering grand vistas of the sea in the distance.

Galle Face

These hills are probably the part of the parallel ridges that one can see in the south-western part of Sri Lanka. Colombo is blessed with a few of these hills, above the flood plains of Kelani River. Of the most noted are the Mutwall hill, the Hulftsdorp hill and the Rajagiriya hills.

The development of new ports and airports in Oluvil are part of the Colombo development strategy. This would give Colombo truly a star city status in South Asia.

Infrastructure

The highlight of major infrastructure development is the completion of the Colombo south port container terminal. A further extension this port development is the planned creation of an island called Colombo Port City by reclaiming land from the sea, adjacent to the newly opened terminal. It is planned to develop this island for a major urban development program to accommodate hotels, shopping malls and recreation areas.

When completed, it will greatly enhance the image and the stature of Colombo, as the pre eminent port city in South Asia. Given the excellent prospects of economic development and trade expansion in Asia and Africa in the near future, the positioning of Colombo as a major port and integrating it with other ports is a move of vital importance for the anticipated next phase of export led growth in Sri Lanka.