Capital Charm

Colombo's tourism propels its economy ahead, reports Akanksha Maker

- Akanksha Maker

Colombo acquired the status of being Sri Lanka’s capital back in 1815, when the country was ceded to the British Empire. This was retained when it gained independence in 1948. In 1978, administrative functions were moved to Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (Colombo’s satellite city), due to which it is known as the country’s “official capital”. However, Colombo is still designated as the commercial capital of Sri Lanka.

There are two operators that have daily direct flights to Colombo from Mumbai (where I flew out of) — Jet Airways and SriLankan Airlines. I chose the former’s overnight flight that arrived in the wee hours of the morning. Dawn hadn’t even cracked yet when we left the airport at 4:45am. Early risers and fitness enthusiasts jogged, walked or ran on the streets, while large groups of children participated in boot camps at the promenade of Galle Face Green, the ocean-side urban park. It stretches for 500 metres along the coast of the Indian Ocean.

I was in the city for the opening of Shangri-La Colombo, reviewed for our February issue and accessible on businesstraveller.com/tried-andtested-category/hotels. On November 17, the hotel officially opened to the public with a grand ceremony that encompassed Chinese and Sri Lankan traditions such as “dotting of the eye” of the dragon, ceremonial lion dances and lighting of lamps. The opening was attended by more than 500 guests and diplomatic bigwigs including Maithripala Sirisena, the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.

During the next few days of my stay at the property, I got a chance to explore the capital city in depth before Shangri-La Colombo’s official inauguration. Suggestions on what to see in Colombo are towards the end of this article.