Colombo

Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka

A Roman Catholic church with basilica status. The church is home to the venerated statue of Our Lady of Lanka.

Central Bank Currency Museum

Established on 20 April 1982 at the Central Bank Head Office in Colombo Fort. The Central Bank Currency Museum traces the history of the usage of coins and notes in Sri Lanka since 3 BCE and has on display a large number of old coins and notes.

Mon-Fri 8:30AM-4PM except public and bank holidays·free

Church of St Anthony

It is beside the sea where Sea Street and St Anthony’s Mawatha meet.

Colombo Lighthouse

Used to look out over the pretty coastline, but now it's hemmed in by the urban centre of Colombo to the east and the new Colombo International Financial City built from reclaimed land to the west, such that it looks like an anachronism if there ever was one.

Daily 9AM-6PM

Gangaramaya Temple

One of the most important temples in Colombo. The temple's architecture is an eclectic mix of Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian and Chinese styles. And adjoining it just to the west is the Seema Malaka, another Buddhist temple complex that sits upon Beira Lake, along with Gangamaraya Park. Some urban and eccentric views of the surrounding skyline can be had from here, including looking back on the Altair Sri Lanka apartment tower that looks like one building falling on another.

Independence Memorial Hall

(also Independence Commemoration Hall)

is a national monument in Sri Lanka built for commemoration of the independence of Sri Lanka from the British rule with the establishment of Dominion of Ceylon on 4 February 1948. It also houses the Independence Memorial Museum.

9AM-5PM·Child Rs 150, adult Rs 300 (2013)

India House

The official residence in Colombo for the Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka. Built in 1926-27 for the Imperial Bank of India and taken over by the Government of India in 1956. It is a colonial style villa/bungalow, with large gardens along Thurstan Road. It is guarded by personnel from the Border Security Force.

Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque

This historic mosque is a popular tourist site. Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque was built in 1909 by the Pettah Muslim community to fulfill their required five-times-daily prayer and Jummah on Fridays. It is one of the oldest mosques in Colombo.

Kalani Raja Maha Viharaya.

Located about 9 km away from Colombo, the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya is one of the most significant Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka. The temple had been built more than 2,000 years ago and contains images of reclining and preaching Buddha along with frescoes depicting incidents from his life.

Lotus Tower

Distinctive Colombo telecommunications tower that offers great views. At night, it is shining with the colours on the flower changing every few seconds.

$20 USD for foreigners, Rs 500 for Sri Lankans

St Andrew's Scots Kirk church

It was founded in the late 19th century, and prospered during the colonial and post-colonial periods, it was a centre for the Scots element in Colombo, the capital city of what was then Ceylon.

St Lucia's Cathedral

The seat of the archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Colombo in Sri Lanka.

St Luke's Anglican Church

The church plays an important role within the history of the Church Missionary Society on the island.

St Michael and All Angels Anglican Church

It was dedicated on 29 September 1887 and is a landmark in Kollupitiya, a suburb of Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. A magnificent building of stone, mortar and wood.

St Paul's Church (1853)

It is one of the oldest churches in Sri Lanka. Built by the Portuguese as a Roman Catholic church, and was known as Nossa Senhora dos Milagres

The Dutch Period Museum

Nice but very small museum documenting Dutch colonial rule in Sri Lanka. Houses Dutch-inspired artifacts.

Sat-Thu 9AM-5PM·Child Rs 300, adult Rs 500 (2013)

The Lighthouse.

A large bungalow. Owned by the Sri Lankan Government and houses the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies. It is in the Cinnamon Gardens a suburb of Colombo, it was built by D. Peiris.

The National Museum of Colombo

Department of National Museums. Also known as the Sri Lanka National Museum, it is the largest museum in Colombo. Among its exhibits, it contains regalia of the 17th-century Kandyan kings.

Sat-Thu 9AM-5PM·Child Rs 300, adult Rs 500 (2013)

The Natural History Museum

This museum features Sri Lanka's floral and fauna in dioramas.

Sat-Thu 9AM-5PM. Closed all public holidays·Child Rs 150, adult Rs 300

The Sapumal Foundation

Colombo 7. The Sapumal Foundation was once home to the late Harry Pieris. Visitors are able to see his studio and art materials that have been left undisturbed over the years. This gallery also contains 200 paintings that follow the development of Sri Lankan art. Special art classes are also available at the gallery.

Victoria Masonic Temple

It is the meeting place for the Masonic Lodges. It was built in 1901 during British rule and designed by E. Skinner, an associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects, and built by the Colombo Commercial Company. The building was built in neo-Georgian style mixed with elements of Eastern architecture.

Whist Bungalow

Pradeepa Hall

A 19th-century large stately bungalow in Neoclassical style. It is in Mutwal north of Colombo on the coast where the mouth of the Kelani River used to be. It is now used as a reception hall for weddings.

Wolvendaal church

One of the oldest churches built during the Dutch era in 1749. The interior is decorated with Dutch furniture with the wooden carved pews, chairs, pulpit and lecterns.

Jefferson House

The ambassadorial residence in Colombo for the Ambassador of the United States in Sri Lanka. It was built in 1914 in the Cinnamon Gardens a suburb of Colombo.

Modera House

A large bungalow. A 19th-century stately home in Mutwal, north of Colombo. Now it is part of the De La Salle College.

The Lionel Wendt Memorial Art Centre

The Art Centre has exhibitions, art shows and stage events. Visitors also able to purchase various antiques as well as paintings and crafts by contemporary Sri Lankan artists.

Mon-Fri 9AM-1PM and 2PM-4PM

Alfred House

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Buddha Jayanthi Chaithya stupa

A Buddhist shrine, built with reinforced concrete.

Lakshmigiri Mansion

Saifee Villa

A bungalow at 102, Thurstan Road in Colombo.

Memm Harnafi

Dawatagaha Jumma Masjid

Mosque founded by C.W.W. Kannangara Mawatha.