Colombo

Fact 1 - Colombo has a neighborhood called 'Slave Island,' named not for transatlantic slavery, but because Dutch colonists kept enslaved Africans and other laborers there to work on cinnamon plantations in the 17th century. The Sinhalese name is 'Kompanna Veediya' which translates to 'Company Street'.

Fact 2 - The Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, one of Colombo's oldest mosques, was inspired by early 20th-century Indo-Islamic and Gothic revival architecture, and its candy-striped red and white exterior was used as a navigational landmark by sailors approaching the port before modern technology.

Fact 3 - Colombo is home to the tallest building in South Asia, the Lotus Tower, which stands at 350 meters (1,150 ft) tall and houses a revolving restaurant, observation deck, and telecommunications facilities.

Fact 4 - Approximately 70% of Sri Lanka's GDP comes through the Western Province, where Colombo is located, making it the undisputed economic hub of the island nation.

Fact 5 - Gangarama Temple's Esala Perahera, a vibrant procession held annually, features elaborately decorated elephants, dancers, and drummers, and unlike the better-known Kandy Perahera, it specifically celebrates both Buddhist and Hindu traditions, reflecting Colombo's multiculturalism.

Fact 6 - Beira Lake, a large lake in the heart of Colombo, was originally created by the Dutch as a moat to protect the city and was once nearly 10 times its current size, shrinking due to land reclamation and urbanization.

Fact 7 - The 'Baila' music genre, a fusion of African, Portuguese, and Sri Lankan rhythms, originated in the Portuguese Burgher community of Colombo and is now a popular form of Sri Lankan music enjoyed across all ethnic groups.

Fact 8 - Colombo's Pettah Market is so densely packed that some streets specialize in selling only one specific item, such as plastic buckets, locks, or spices, making navigation an adventure in itself.