Editing Colombo (section)

== Culture ==
=== Annual cultural events and fairs ===
[[File:Vesak in SriLanka.jpg|thumbnail|Vesak Thorana in Colombo]]
[[File:Christmas1.JPG|thumbnail|Christmas Celebrations in Colombo]]
Colombo's most popular festival is the celebration of [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]]'s birth, enlightenment and death all falling on the same day.<ref name = "vesak"/> In Sinhala this is known as ''[[Vesak]]''.<ref name="vesak">{{cite web
| last = Venerable Mahinda
| title = Significance of Vesak
| publisher = BuddhaNet 
| url = http://www.buddhanet.net/vesak.htm
| access-date = 2007-02-19
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070219115054/http://www.buddhanet.net/vesak.htm
| archive-date = 2007-02-19
| url-status = live
}}</ref>
During this festival, much of the city is decorated with lanterns, lights and special displays of light (known as ''thoran''). The festival falls in mid-May and lasts a week. Many Sri Lankans visit the city to see the lantern competitions and decorations. During this week people distribute, rice, drinks and other food items for free in ''dunsal'' which means charity place. These ''dunsal'' are popular amongst visitors from the suburbs.

Since there is a large number of Muslims in Colombo. Eid Ul Fitr and Eid Ul Adha are two Islamic festivals that are celebrated in Colombo. Many businesses flourish during the eventual countdown for Eid Ul Fitr which is a major Islamic festival celebrated by Muslims after a month-long fasting. Colombo is generally very busy on the eve of the festivals as people do their last-minute shopping.

Christmas is another major festival. Although Sri Lanka's Christians make up only just over 7% of the population, Christmas is one of the island's biggest festivals. Most streets and commercial buildings light up from the beginning of December and festive sales begin at all shopping centres and department stores. Caroling and nativity plays are frequent sights during the season.

The Sinhalese and Hindu Aluth Awurudda' is a cultural event that takes place on 13 and 14 April. This is the celebration of the Sinhalese and Hindu new year. The festivities include many events and traditions that display a great deal of Sri Lankan culture.
Several old clubs of the city give a glimpse of the British equestrian lifestyle; these include the [[Colombo Club]], [[Orient Club]], the 80 Club, and the [[Colombo Cricket Club]].

=== Performing arts ===
[[File:The landmark Nelum Pokuna (Lotus Pond) Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre.JPG|thumb|right|The [[Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre]] is a major venue for the performing arts|223x223px]]
Colombo has several [[performing arts]] centres, which are popular for their musical and theatrical performances, including the [[Lionel Wendt Art Centre|Lionel Wendt Theatre]], the Elphinstone, and Tower Hall, all of which were made for western-style productions. The [[Navarangahala]] found in the city is the country's first [[nation]]al [[theatre (structure)|theatre]] designed and built for Asian and local style musical and theatrical productions.

The [[Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre]] is a world-class theatre that opened in December 2011.<ref name="Pokuna">{{cite news|title=Nelum Pokuna|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/caption-story/15485-nelum-pokuna.html|access-date=2011-12-15|newspaper=Daily Mirror|date=2011-12-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107195703/http://www.dailymirror.lk/caption-story/15485-nelum-pokuna.html|archive-date=2012-01-07|url-status=dead}}</ref> Designed in the form of the Lotus Pond in [[Polonnaruwa]],<ref name="Treasure">{{cite web | last = Prins | first = Stephen | title = A National Treasure | url = http://www.sundaytimes.lk/110821/Plus/plus_01.5.html | access-date = 2010-05-17 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110821030317/http://sundaytimes.lk/110821/Plus/plus_01.5.html | archive-date = 2011-08-21 | url-status = live }}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=source claims to repeat info from the theatre's website, but that info does not appear to be on theatre's website|date=February 2016}} the theatre is a major theatre destination.

=== Museums and art collections ===
The [[Colombo National Museum|National Museum of Colombo]], established on 1 January 1877 during the tenure of the British Colonial Governor [[Sir]] [[William Henry Gregory]], is in the Cinnamon Gardens area.<ref>{{cite web
| title = History of Colombo National Museum
| url = http://www.craftrevival.org/detailsMuseums.asp?CountryName=SRI%20LANKA&MuseumCode=002246
| access-date = 2007-02-02
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928065022/http://www.craftrevival.org/detailsMuseums.asp?CountryName=SRI%20LANKA&MuseumCode=002246
| archive-date = 28 September 2007
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> The museum houses the [[crown jewels]] and throne of the last king of the kingdom of Kandy, [[Sri Vikrama Rajasinha]].<ref>{{cite web |title=History of Colombo National Museum |url=http://www.craftrevival.org/SouthAsia/detailsMuseums.asp?CountryName=SRI%20LANKA&MuseumCode=002246 |access-date=November 22, 2016 }}{{dead link|date=November 2016 |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

There is also the [[Colombo Dutch Museum]] detailing the Dutch colonial history of the country. Colombo does not boast a very big art gallery. There is a small collection of random Sri Lankan paintings at the Art Gallery in Green Path; next to it is the Natural History Museum.

=== Sports ===
[[File:Colombo Racecourse ground, Sri Lanka.jpg|thumb|right|Colombo Racecourse ground]]
One of the most popular sports in Sri Lanka is [[cricket]]. The country emerged as champions of the 1996 [[Cricket World Cup]] and became runners up in 2007 and 2011. In the [[ICC World Twenty20]] they became runners up in 2009 and 2012 and winners in 2014. The sport is played in parks, playgrounds, beaches and even in the streets. Colombo is the home for two of the country's most popular [[International structure of cricket|international cricket]] stadiums, [[Singhalese Sports Club]]'s [[Cricket Stadium]] and [[R. Premadasa Stadium]] (named after late president [[Premadasa]]). [[Colombo Stars]] represents the city in [[Lanka Premier League]].

Colombo has the distinction of being the only city in the world to have four cricket test venues in the past: [[Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Stadium]], [[Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground]], [[Colombo Cricket Club Ground]] and [[Ranasinghe Premadasa Stadium]]. The [[Sugathadasa Stadium]] is an international standard stadium for [[Sport|athletics]], [[swimming (sport)|swimming]] and [[football (soccer)|football]], also held the [[South Asian Games]] in 1991 and 2006. Situated in Colombo the [[Royal Colombo Golf Club]] is one of the oldest in Asia. Other sporting clubs in Colombo include [[Colombo Swimming Club]], [[Colombo Rowing Club]] and the [[Yachting Association of Sri Lanka]].

[[Rugby Union|Rugby]] is also a popular sport at the club and school levels. Colombo has its local football team [[Colombo FC]] and the sport is being developed as a part of the FIFA Goal program.

The [[Colombo Port City]] is to include a new Formula One track, constructed in the vicinity of the Colombo Harbour. According to Dr Priyath Wickrama, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, an eight-lane F1 track will "definitely" be a part of the New Port City. This would host the Sri Lankan Grand Prix.

[[Colombo Marathon]] is an internationally recognised [[marathon]] established in 1998.

=== Media ===
{{See also|Television in Sri Lanka}}

Almost all major media businesses in Sri Lanka operate from Colombo. The state media has its offices in Bullers Road and carries out regional transmissions from there. These include the [[Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation]] (SLBC), formerly known as [[Radio Ceylon]], and the [[Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation]]. The SLBC is the oldest radio station in [[South Asia]] and the second oldest in the world. Many private broadcasting companies have their offices and transmission stations in or around Colombo. As with most metro areas, radio bands are highly utilised for radio communications. Some of the prominent radio stations broadcasting in the Colombo area are [[Sirasa FM]], [[FM Derana]], [[Hiru FM]], [[Shakthi FM]], [[Vettri FM]], [[Sooriyan FM]], [[Kiss FM (Sri Lanka)|Kiss FM]], Lite FM, [[Yes FM]], [[Gold FM (Sri Lanka)|Gold FM]], Sith FM, Y FM, E FM and many more.

Television networks operating in the Colombo metro area include the state-owned television broadcasting networks which are broadcast by the Rupavahini Corporation of Sri Lanka, broadcasting television in the official languages Sinhala and Tamil. English language television is also broadcast, more targeted to the demographics of the English speaking Sri Lankans, expatriate communities and tourists. There are as well several private operators. Many of the privately run television station networks were often based upon operational expansions of pre-existing commercial radio networks and broadcast infrastructure.