# Colombo

> largest city and de facto capital of Sri Lanka

**Wikidata**: [Q35381](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q35381)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombo)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/colombo

## Summary

Colombo is located in Sri Lanka[1]. It has a population of 648k[2] as of 2025[2]. The area of Colombo is 37.3M. 
The elevation of Colombo is 1. 
Colombo's population and area provide insight into its size and scale[2]. 
Its location in Sri Lanka[1] and elevation of 1 are key geographical characteristics. 
Colombo is a place with these distinct features[1][2].

## Summary
Colombo is the largest city and de facto capital of Sri Lanka, serving as the nation's primary economic and commercial hub. While Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the official legislative capital, Colombo retains its status as the seat of government and the country's most populous urban center. Located in the Western Province along the Kelani River and the Indian Ocean, it functions as a major port city with a rich history dating back to the 16th century.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** Largest city, de facto national capital, former national capital (1565–1982), economic capital, and commercial capital of Sri Lanka.
*   **Location:** Situated in the Western Province and Colombo District, with coordinates at latitude 6.926666666666667 and longitude 79.86055555555555.
*   **Area:** Covers 37,321,728 square metres.
*   **Population:** Estimated at 647,557 in 2025; recorded at 752,993 in 2011.
*   **Elevation:** 1 metre above sea level.
*   **Timezone:** UTC+05:30.
*   **Official Languages:** Sinhala and Tamil.
*   **Native Name:** කොළඹ (Koḷam̆ba) in Sinhala; கொழும்பு in Tamil.
*   **Postal Codes:** Ranges from 00000 to 09999.
*   **Local Dialing Code:** 011.
*   **UN/LOCODE:** LKCMB.
*   **Administrative Codes:** HASC code LK.CO; WOEID 2189783.
*   **Significant Event:** Siege of Colombo.
*   **Twinned Cities:** Biratnagar, Saint Petersburg (since 1997), Shanghai (since 2003), Leeds, Ulaanbaatar, and Malé.
*   **Member Of:** World Tourism Cities Federation and Wetland City Network (joined October 25, 2018).
*   **Website:** http://www.cmc.lk/ (Colombo Municipal Council).
*   **Social Media:** Subreddit "Colombo" (active since June 21, 2013); YouTube handle "colombomunicipalcouncil".
*   **Identifiers:** GND 4010404-7; VIAF 138381336; FAST 1212413; Geonames 1248991; Freebase /m/0fn7r.

## FAQs
**What is the political status of Colombo compared to the official capital?**
Colombo serves as the de facto capital and the economic heart of Sri Lanka, whereas Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the official legislative capital. Historically, Colombo was the national capital from 1565 until 1982, after which the capital functions were partially moved, though Colombo remains the seat of many government institutions.

**How large is the city and what is its population?**
The city spans an area of 37,321,728 square metres and sits just 1 metre above sea level. While the 2011 census recorded a population of 752,993, current estimates for 2025 place the population at approximately 647,557.

**What languages are spoken and what is the local time?**
The official languages of the city are Sinhala and Tamil, reflecting the diverse demographics of the region. The local time zone is UTC+05:30, and the local dialing code for the area is 011.

**Which international organizations is Colombo a member of?**
Colombo is a member of the World Tourism Cities Federation and joined the Wetland City Network on October 25, 2018. These memberships highlight its role in global tourism and its commitment to preserving wetland ecosystems within an urban setting.

**Has Colombo established sister city relationships?**
Yes, the city maintains twinned administrative bodies with several international locations, including Saint Petersburg (since 1997), Shanghai (since 2003), Biratnagar, Leeds, Ulaanbaatar, and Malé. These partnerships facilitate cultural and administrative exchanges between Colombo and these global cities.

## Why It Matters
Colombo is the primary engine of Sri Lanka's economy, functioning as the nation's commercial and financial center. Its strategic location on the Indian Ocean and the Kelani River has historically made it a critical port city, facilitating trade and cultural exchange for centuries. As the de facto capital, it houses the majority of government offices, foreign embassies, and corporate headquarters, making it the political and administrative nucleus of the country despite the official legislative capital being nearby. The city's designation as a Wetland City underscores its unique ecological balance between urban development and natural water systems, a model of significance for sustainable urban planning in South Asia. Its role as a "City-state" in the video game *Civilization V* further cements its status as a historically significant and strategically vital urban entity on the global stage.

## Notable For
*   **Dual Capital Status:** Uniquely functions as the de facto capital and economic hub while the official legislative capital is located in a separate city.
*   **Historical Continuity:** Served as the national capital for over four centuries (1565–1982) before the administrative shift.
*   **Wetland City Designation:** Recognized globally for its integration of wetlands within the urban fabric, joining the Wetland City Network in 2018.
*   **Economic Dominance:** Holds the title of the "economic capital city" and "commercial capital city" of Sri Lanka.
*   **Geographic Uniqueness:** Located at an elevation of only 1 metre above sea level, making it highly susceptible to sea-level changes.
*   **Cultural Hub:** Features a native label in Sinhala (කොළඹ) and Tamil, reflecting its multicultural heritage.
*   **Gaming Representation:** Included as a playable City-state in the strategy game *Civilization V*.
*   **Extensive Digital Presence:** Maintains active official channels on YouTube, Reddit, and Facebook, alongside a dedicated municipal website.

## Body

### Geographic and Administrative Identity
Colombo is a major human settlement classified as a city and a big city, specifically noted as the largest city in Sri Lanka. It is located in the Western Province and the Colombo District, bordered by the Kelani River and the Indian Ocean. The city's coordinates are precisely 6.926666666666667° N and 79.86055555555555° E. It covers a vast area of 37,321,728 square metres and sits at an elevation of 1 metre above sea level. The postal code system ranges from 00000 to 09999. Administratively, it is part of the Western Province and is identified by the HASC code LK.CO and the UN/LOCODE LKCMB. The city operates on the UTC+05:30 timezone and uses the local dialing code 011.

### Political Status and History
The entity holds a complex political status, serving as the de facto national capital of Sri Lanka. Historically, it was the national capital from 1565 until 1982, after which it became a former national capital. Despite the official legislative capital being Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Colombo remains the seat of the executive and judicial branches, as well as the economic capital. It is also the capital of the Colombo District and the Western Province. A significant historical event associated with the city is the Siege of Colombo. The city is described as the "economic capital city" and "commercial capital city" in various sources, distinguishing its functional role from the legislative capital.

### Demographics and Population
Population data for Colombo varies by source and year. The 2011 census recorded a population of 752,993. More recent estimations for the year 2025 suggest a population of 647,557. The inhabitants are referred to by the demonym "Colombois" (masculine singular) and "Colomboise" (feminine singular), with the Arabic equivalent كُلُنْبِيٌّ also in use. The city is a melting pot of cultures, with official languages being Sinhala and Tamil. The native label in Sinhala is කොළඹ (Koḷam̆ba), and in Tamil, it is கொழும்பு.

### International Relations and Memberships
Colombo is an active member of the global community, belonging to the World Tourism Cities Federation. It joined the Wetland City Network on October 25, 2018, highlighting its commitment to environmental sustainability. The city has established twinned administrative body relationships with several international cities: Biratnagar, Saint Petersburg (since 1997), Shanghai (since 2003), Leeds, Ulaanbaatar, and Malé. These partnerships foster international cooperation and cultural exchange.

### Digital Presence and Media
The city maintains a robust digital footprint. The official website is http://www.cmc.lk/, managed by the Colombo Municipal Council. Social media engagement includes a subreddit titled "Colombo," which has been active since June 21, 2013, and a Facebook page with the ID 100092730128935. The city's official YouTube channel is "colombomunicipalcouncil" (Channel ID: UC3i2pdQpp9FbMOuRT2--7CQ), which has been active since May 18, 2023. The city is also represented in the video game *Civilization V* as a City-state. Various media assets, including a skyline image from 2024, an aerial view, a nighttime view, and a flag image, are available on Wikimedia Commons.

### Identifiers and Authority Records
Colombo is cataloged under numerous international authority and identification systems. Key identifiers include the GND ID 4010404-7, VIAF ID 138381336, and FAST ID 1212413. It is listed in the Geonames database as 1248991 and in the Freebase database as /m/0fn7r. Other significant IDs include the Library of Congress Authority ID (n81028138), the British National Library J9U ID (987007552871705171), and the WorldCat Entities ID (E39PBJf4dGYjt6mbMrvrVgbfMP). The city is also indexed in the Encyclopædia Britannica Online, the Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana, and the Great Russian Encyclopedia.

### Cultural and Educational References
The city is the subject of numerous encyclopedic entries and academic works. It is described in the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, The Nuttall Encyclopædia, Otto's encyclopedia, the Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia, and the Great Soviet Encyclopedia. It is also featured in the Sytin Military Encyclopedia and The New Student's Reference Work. The city has dedicated categories on Wikipedia for people born there, people who died there, and associated people. It is the topic of the "economy of Colombo" and is listed as a vital article on Wikipedia at Level 4.

### Infrastructure and Utilities
The city's infrastructure is supported by a local dialing code of 011 and a postal code range of 00000–09999. It is connected to the OpenStreetMap via relation ID 16132. The city's location is tracked by the OpenWeatherMap City ID 1248991. The Google Maps Customer ID is 3606026835740296077. The city is also listed in the Inaturalist Place database (ID 35993) and the Routard.com place database (ID 4991).

### Visual and Artistic Representation
Visual representations of Colombo include the flag of the Colombo Municipal Council, the coat of arms of the Colombo Municipal Council, and various photographs such as the 2024 skyline, an aerial view, and a nighttime view. The city is also the subject of a locator map image showing its position within the Sri Lanka districts. These assets are hosted on Wikimedia Commons and are accessible via specific file paths. The city is also represented in the Grove Art Online and the Michelin Voyages guide.

## References

1. archINFORM
2. [Source](https://kvs.gov.spb.ru/en/agreements/)
3. BnF authorities
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. [Source](https://cn.wtcf.org.cn/citys/3418-2.html)
6. [Colombo](https://wetlandcity.org/colombo/)
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. Czech National Authority Database
9. MusicBrainz
10. [Source](https://worldpopulationreview.com/cities/sri-lanka/colombo)
11. [Source](http://cnig.gouv.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CNT-PVM_r%C3%A9vis%C3%A9_2020-01-27-1.pdf)
12. GeoNames
13. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
14. [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/places/inaturalist-places.csv.zip)
15. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/Colombo-GZP58)
16. museum-digital
17. YouTube API