Editing Colombo (section)

==Infrastructure==
[[File:Colombo Port City seem from galle road..jpg|thumb|Colombo Galle face road in the evening ]]
Colombo has most of the amenities that a modern city has. Compared to other parts of the country, Colombo has the highest degree of infrastructure. Electricity, water and transport to street lights and phone booths are to a considerably good standard. Apart from that, many luxurious hotels, clubs and restaurants are in the city. In recent times there has been an outpour of [[high-rise]] condominiums, mainly due to the very high land prices.<ref name="Lanka-houses">{{cite web|title=Colombo|url=http://lanka-houses.com/city/colombo/|publisher=lanka-houses.com|access-date=29 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130104193949/http://lanka-houses.com/city/colombo/|archive-date=4 January 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Harbour===
[[File:ColomboHarbour-SriLanka02.jpg|thumb|Container handling at Colombo Port.]]
[[Port of Colombo|Colombo Harbour]] is the largest and one of the busiest [[port]]s in Sri Lanka. Colombo was established primarily as a port city during the colonial era, with an artificial harbour that has been expanded over the years. The [[Sri Lanka Navy]] maintains a [[naval base]], ''SLNS Rangalla'', within the harbour.

The Port of Colombo handled 3.75&nbsp;million [[twenty-foot equivalent unit]]s in 2008, 10.6% up on 2007 (which itself was 9.7% up on 2006), bucking the global economic trend. Of those, 817,000 were local shipments with the rest transshipments. With a capacity of 5.7&nbsp;million TEUs and a dredged depth of over 15&nbsp;m (49&nbsp;ft), the Colombo Harbour is one of the busiest ports in the world and ranks among the top 25 ports (23rd). Sri Lanka's Port of Colombo is said to be the busiest, largest port in the Indian Ocean.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cost of Living in Colombo, Sri Lanka – PropertyInLanka.com |url=https://www.propertyinlanka.com/cost-of-living-in-colombo-sri-lanka/ |access-date=2024-03-31 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Colombo is part of the [[21st Century Maritime Silk Road]] that runs from the Chinese coast to the Upper Adriatic region with its rail connections to [[Central Europe|Central]] and [[Eastern Europe]].<ref>[https://www.france24.com/en/20190324-sri-lanka-new-chinese-silk-road-disappointment-economy-debt-italy-france-investment In Sri Lanka, the new Chinese Silk Road is a disappointment]</ref><ref>[https://jakartaglobe.id/news/china-silk-road-project-sri-lanka-delayed-beijing-toughens-stance/ China 'Silk Road' Project in Sri Lanka Delayed as Beijing Toughens Stance]</ref><ref>Wolf D. Hartmann, Wolfgang Maennig, Run Wang: Chinas neue Seidenstraße. (2017).</ref><ref>Jean-Marc F. Blanchard "China's Maritime Silk Road Initiative and South Asia" (2018) pp 55.</ref><ref>[https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/sri-lanka-key-component-in-21st-century-maritime-silk-road-china-118072800693_1.html Sri Lanka 'key component' in 21st Century Maritime Silk Road: China]</ref>

===Transport===
==== Bus ====
Colombo has an extensive public transport system based on buses operated both by private operators and the government-owned [[Sri Lanka Transport Board|Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB)]]. The three primary bus terminals – Bastian Mawatha, Central and the Gunasinghapura Bus Terminals – are in Pettah.<ref>{{cite web |author=Hasintha Weragala, Things to do in Sri Lanka |url=https://www.thingstodosrilanka.com/colombo-sri-lanka-travel-guide/#bbs2 |title=Guide map of bus terminals in Colombo |publisher=thingstodoinsrilanla.lk |date=2018-11-27 |access-date=2018-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204195236/https://www.thingstodosrilanka.com/colombo-sri-lanka-travel-guide/#bbs2 |archive-date=4 December 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Bastian Mawatha handles long-distance services whereas Gunasinghapura and Central handle local services.

==== Rail ====
[[File:Train track on the beach in Colombo (16779050855).jpg|thumb|Commuter rail within the city]]
{{main|Sri Lanka Railways}}
Train transport [[Sri Lanka Railways#Commuter Rail|in the city]] is limited since most trains are meant for transport to and from the city rather than within it and are often overcrowded. However, the Central Bus Stand and [[Fort Railway Station (Colombo)|Fort Railway Station]] function as the island's primary hub for bus and rail transport respectively. Up until the 1970s, the city had [[tram]] services, which were discontinued. Other means of transport include [[auto rickshaws]] (commonly called "three-wheelers") and [[taxicab]]s. Three-wheelers are entirely operated by individuals and hardly regulated whilst cab services are run by private companies and are metered.

* '''[[Main Line (Sri Lanka)|Main Line]]''' – Colombo Fort to Veyangoda; onwards to [[Kandy]], [[Badulla]], [[Matale]], [[Kurunegala]], [[Anuradhapura]], [[Jaffna]], [[Kankesanturai]]. [[Trincomalee railway station|Trincomalee]], [[Batticaloa railway station|Batticaloa]], [[Talaimannar]] (presently just [[Mannar Line|Madhu Road]]).
* '''[[Coastal Line (Sri Lanka)|Coastal Line]]''' – Colombo to [[Panadura]]; onwards to [[Galle]], [[Matara, Sri Lanka|Matara]] and Beliaththa. 
* '''[[Puttalam Line]]''' – Colombo to [[Ja-Ela]]; onwards to [[Negombo]] and [[Puttalam]].
* '''[[Kelani Valley Line]]''' – Colombo to [[Avissawella]].

==== Roads ====
Post-war development in the Colombo area also involves the construction of numerous expressway grade arterial road routes. The first of these constructed is the [[Southern Expressway (Sri Lanka)|Southern Expressway]], which goes from [[Kottawa]], a southern suburb of Colombo, to [[Matara, Sri Lanka|Matara]] City in the south of the country. Expressways constructed in the Colombo metropolitan area include the [[Colombo–Katunayake Expressway]], which was opened in October 2013 and the Colombo orbital bypass Outer Circular Highway ([[Outer Circular Highway|Arthur C. Clarke Expressway]]). The [[Colombo-Katunayake Expressway]] (E03) runs from [[Peliyagoda]], a northern suburb of Colombo, to [[Colombo International Airport]] and it is linked with one of the major commercial hubs and a major tourist destination of the country, the city of [[Negombo]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2011/08/16/fea14.asp |title=A Speedy and safe journey to Galle |publisher=Dailynews.lk |date=2011-08-16 |access-date=2013-01-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030164322/http://archives.dailynews.lk/2011/08/16/fea14.asp |archive-date=2013-10-30 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Gamini Gunaratna, Sri Lanka News Paper by LankaPage.com (LLC) |url=http://www.colombopage.com/archive_11B/Nov07_1320645974JR.php |title=Nearly half of the work completed on outer circular highway around Sri Lankan capital |publisher=Colombopage.com |date=2011-11-07 |access-date=2013-01-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903220847/http://www.colombopage.com/archive_11B/Nov07_1320645974JR.php |archive-date=2013-09-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

* [[A1 highway (Sri Lanka)|A1 highway]] connects Colombo with [[Kandy]].
* [[A2 highway (Sri Lanka)|A2 highway]] connects Colombo with [[Galle]] and [[Matara, Sri Lanka|Matara]]
* [[A3 highway (Sri Lanka)|A3 highway]] connects Colombo with [[Negombo]] and [[Puttalam]]
* [[A4 highway (Sri Lanka)|A4 highway]] connects Colombo with [[Ratnapura]] and [[Batticaloa]]

==== Ferry ====
An international ferry liner, the [[Scotia Prince]], is conducting a ferry service to [[Tuticorin]], India.  Ferry services between the two countries have been revived after more than 20 years.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Tuticorin-Colombo-ferry-sets-sail-/articleshow/8842845.cms?referral=PM Tuticorin-Colombo ferry sets sail] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003062309/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Tuticorin-Colombo-ferry-sets-sail-/articleshow/8842845.cms?referral=PM |date=2016-10-03 }}. Times of India. (2011-06-14).</ref>

==== Air ====
[[File:Colombo Airport Ratmalana Landside View.jpg|thumb|Ratmalana Airport]]

[[Ratmalana Airport]] is the city's airport, located {{convert|15|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of the city centre. It commenced operating in 1935 and was the country's first international airport until it was replaced by [[Bandaranaike Airport]] in 1967. Ratmalana Airport now primarily services domestic flights, aviation training and international corporate flights.

===Landmarks===
[[File:Colombo Skyline Jan 2022.jpg|thumb|Colombo Skyline – 2022]]
The two [[World Trade Center Colombo|World Trade Centre]] towers used to be the most recognised landmarks of the city. Before they were completed in 1997, the adjacent [[Bank of Ceylon]] tower was the tallest structure and the most prominent city landmark. Before the skyscrapers were built, the Old Parliament Building that stood in the Fort district with the [[Old Colombo Lighthouse]] close to it used to be the tallest building. Another important landmark is the [[Independence Commemoration Hall (Sri Lanka)|Independence Hall]] at Independence Square in Cinnamon Gardens.

Another landmark is St.Paul's Church [[Milagiriya]], one of the oldest [[church (building)|churches]] in Sri Lanka, first built by the Portuguese and rebuilt by the British in 1848. The Cargills & Millers building in Fort is also a protected building of historical significance.

[[Cannon]]s that were once mounted on the rampart of the old fort of Colombo were laid out for observance and prestige at the Green. The colonial styled [[Galle Face Hotel]], known as Asia's Emerald on the Green since 1864, is adjacent to Galle Face Green. The hotel has played host to guests such as the [[British Royal Family]] and other [[royal family|royal]] guests and celebrities. After a stay at the hotel, [[Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg|Princess Alexandra]] of Denmark commented that "the peacefulness and generosity encountered at the [[Galle Face Hotel]] cannot be matched."<ref name="Galleface">{{cite web |title=Princess Alexandra's Visit |url=http://www.gallefacehotel.com/html_classic/the_hotel.htm |access-date=November 22, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070413052940/http://www.gallefacehotel.com/html_classic/the_hotel.htm |archive-date=April 13, 2007}}</ref> Also facing Galle Face Green is the [[Ceylon Inter-Continental]] Hotel.