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Published in:
2023 | OriginalPaper | Chapter
SRI LANKA: A Case Study of Colombo
Authors : Ruwan Wijayamuni, Dinuka Guruge, Saroj Jayasinghe
Published in: Cities Under COVID-19: A Systems Perspective
Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore
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Abstract
The city of Colombo has been the commercial capital of Sri Lanka for over two centuries. The city borders the sea and monsoonal rains cause periodic flooding. The large Kelani River marks its northern borders and there are multiple waterways within the city. The river is the major source of water for the city. The city’s border with the Indian ocean made it an important port for trade with Europe as far back as the fifth century. During the eighth century there were settlements of Arab traders in the area. The Portuguese invasion took place in 1505 and in the mid-1600s the area was controlled by the Dutch, who grew cinnamon in the area now known as Cinnamon Gardens. The British invasion in the early nineteenth century had a profound impact and in 1815 Colombo was proclaimed the capital of Ceylon. A breakwater was built during the 1870s.