Colombo, Sri Lanka
Colombo is the economic capital of Sri Lanka and the largest city by population approaching 5.7 million. Sri Lanka is an island nation off of the southeast tip of India in the Bay of Bengal. The national population is 21.5 million.
Colombo’s twin towers of the World Trade Center completed in 1997 were built adjacent to the Bank of Ceylon tower and became the tallest skyscrapers in the city. The Bank of Ceylon tower is 105 meters (344 feet). The World Trade Center towers are 152 meters (499 feet) tall. The Grand Hyatt Colombo hotel may finish at 229 meters (751 feet). The Lotus Tower for communication is 350 meters (1148 feet),
the base of one of the skyline’s tallest towers with World Trade Towers.
The Colombo Lotus Tower 
Colombo’s twin towers 
Light house tower viewed from in front of the Kingsbury Hotel 
Light house tower 
Khan Clock Tower
The Khan Clock Tower was built in 1923.
We stopped for tea at the Kingsbury Hotel. It was from there that I saw the Lighthouse Tower. The following month, on Easter morning, terrorists bombed the hotel and several other sites in Colombo.
Kingsbury hotel 
in front of Kingsbury Hotel
the seat of the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Colombo
The Red Mosque was once the distinguishing feature of the city and guided sailors to the port.
Colombo is a major shipping port. Two thousand years ago, this port was known and developed as a trading center by Arabs. In 1502, Portugal negotiated a trade agreement and offered protection for the coast. They soon expelled the Muslims and built a fort in 1517. By 1593 they had gained control of the entire region. In 1638 the Dutch began attacking the Portuguese and with an alliance from neighbouring Kandy. In 1656 they were victorious and controlled the trade through the Dutch East India Company until 1796. In both cases, the primary purpose was to build the fortification. When the British captured Colombo, they began colonialism and removed some of the fortifications to build homes. They planned the city layout and infrastructure. In 1865 indigenous people were trained in self-government and in 1948 they negotiated their independence.
Today, container handling has been perfected here. Cranes load and unload ships and transfer containers to and from trucks using a computerized system.
a loaded ship leaving the dock 
moving sideways with the help of two tugs. 
Vender’s licenced booths 
vendors on the passenger dock
The curious ship below appears to be a family home.
What is the purpose of all the plastic balls in the stern? Perhaps they are just working on cleaning up the plastic waste in the oceans.
Remembering the old ways 
Work was hard back then too.
Buddism is one of the popular religions here along with Islam, Hindi and Christian.
Are you in the market for an elephant?
Elephants in all colors, shapes and size
Great photos, Doug!
Thanks for sharing!!!
my pleasure Roy
Yes, great photos, Doug! Lucky you visited when you did. I have a friend from Colombo. She has a house and lives there part of the year. She was there when the bombings happened. She’s just returned to Canada late June. She said the hotels are 75% empty and there were empty seats on her flight back to Canada.