City Introduction

Colombo is the largest city in Sri Lanka, and situated on the southwest coast of Ceylon Peninsula and on the south of Kelani River. Colombo means “Heaven of the sea” in Sinhalese. Colombo has long history. In the eighth century, the Arabians settled here, and called it “Kolamba” (meaning “port and mango tree”), which was translated by the Portuguese as “Colombo”. Colombo was chosen as the capital of Sri Lanka since its independence. Famous scenic spots include, Sri Lanka National Museum, Sri Lanka Parliament Building, Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya (Kelaniya Temple), Bandaranaike Memorial International Convention Hall, and the famous shopping malls include House of Fashion and Odel. Colombo is situated in the coastal area with the pleasing climate, high temperature and without intense heat. In the streets of the city, the ironwood trees as the national tree and water lily as the national flower are planted here and there, but there are more coconut trees reaching towards the sky. There are many peculiar trees, such as “raintree”, which absorbs water in the nighttime and extends the leaves after the sunrise, then water sprays like raining towards the plants under the tree. This is the heaven for crows (called “holy bird” by the Sri Lanka people). The crows hover in the city, shading the sun and producing the deafening noise.

 

 

 

 

History and Culture

Colombo was initially built by the Arabians in the eighth century. In 1330, Chinese traveler Wang Dayuan came to this city (which was called Kalanpu at that time). Since 1518, it became the base for the Portugal domination, and the castles were built there. In 1656, it became the Holland dependency. In 1796, it became the occupied land of UK and enjoyed the prosper for certain time, developing into the largest harbor in Sri Lanka. Colombo became the capital of Sri Lanka since its independence. It is the cultural center of Sri Lanka, and has two universities founded in 1959 and 1967 respectively. There are many tourist attractions in the city. Built in 1877, Colombo National Museum in Fernando Street is the oldest museum in Sri Lanka, collecting the historical relics of this country in different periods. Viharamahadevi Park and Dehiwela Zoo are famous appreciation places of plants and animals; International Conference Hall is a unique white octagonal building. Kotte was the capital of Kingdom of Kotte 6km to the east of Colombo.

 

 

 

 

Natural Environment

Sri Lanka is situated in the south of Asia and is an island country on the Indian Ocean. It covers 65,610km2. Its coastal line is 1,200km long. There are the plateau and mountain land in the middle and south, and the average altitude is about 600m.

It is the essential place for west-east navigation on the Indian Ocean, and always enjoys the name of “Gate of Asia” and “Oriental Crossroad”, and it has one of the longest artificial harbors in the world, and 16km coastal line.

 

 

 

 

Climate

Though Colombo is near the equator and has the tropical climate, it has mild climate and high temperature, but without intense heat because of the sea wind effect. It has annual average temperature about 27°C and annual precipitation 2,300mm. Except in the mountainous zone, other places are hot all the year round. In most time of the year, it has warm and humid climate with sufficient rainwater, and the trees are luxuriantly green in the city with the pleasing landscape. The palm trees on both sides of the boulevard are lush, tall and straight, and the coconut trees in the suburb are luxuriant and vast.

 

 

 

 

Useful Information

Network

Internet access can be generally realized with mobile phone card. WIFI coverage is not wide. Some residential houses and high-level hotels have WIFI coverage (internet access might be charged, even in the high-level hotels), and it is required to confirm it before the check-in. Some residential houses and hotels provide the computers for internet access at the price of 60 Rupee/hour.

Post Office

In Colombo, it is not difficult to find the post office, which can be found in almost all districts, and the postage for mailing the post card to China is about 20 Rupee.

Service facilities

In Sri Lanka, there are not many paid or free toilets. Large department stores, restaurants and coffee bars are generally designed with the toilets. In the shopping mall or some restaurants, there are the paid cleaning women workers sometimes, generally at the price of about 20 Rupee. The large activities (such as Esala Perahera) in Kandy, there might be the temporary mobile toilets, which might be charged.

Information of Embassy and Consulate

Address: 381/A BAUDDHALOKA MAWATHA, COLOMBO 7, SRI LANKA

Tel: 94-11-2688610 (Office) 2694494 (Political Section) 2682495 (Commercial Section) 2694493 (Cultural Section)

Fax: 2693799 (Office) 2684579 (Commercial Section)

Website: http://lk.china-embassy.org http://lk.chineseembassy.org

Email: chinaemb_lk@mfa.gov.cn

 

 

 

 

Visa Information

Personal information

1. Original and copy of the passport, with the end page signed by the passport holder; the validity period shall be at least half year (the remaining validity period of the passport shall be at least half a year calculated from the application day). There shall be at least two blank pages available for the visa. If there is the old passport, it shall be provided too.

2. Two 1 inch photos in white background within last six months.

2. Front-and-back photocopy of Identification Card, with clear contents.

Guarantee letter of the company

(1) Printed with the notepaper of the company, including the company address, telephone number, fax number and so on.

(2) Contents shall include:

a. The passport number, birthday, title and salary of the applicant;

b. Time for planned stay (from starting day to ending day, total stay days), destination and itinerary;

d. Who will pay the visit expenses;

e. It is required to guarantee that the applicant observes the laws in the destination and returns to China on time.

(3) The printed version shall be affixed with the official seal of the company and signed by the personnel in charge.

 

 

 

 

Currency Exchange

The banks and ATMs in Colombo are distributed here and there.

In Colombo, there are some private Money Exchange/Cram stores, some in Chatham St. and Mudalige Mawatha Street of Fort District, and on the opposite of Cargills & Millers Building, not far from Hilton Hotel, in the financial zone of Colombo.

UnionPay

In May 2012, China UnionPay and Commercial Bank of Ceylon (CBC) jointly declared that more than 500 ATMs of this Bank in Sri Lanka would accept UnionPay. Till this moment, UnionPay card could be used in ATMs of CBC, and the ATMs with mark of “UnionPay”, “Standard Chartered”, “HSBC” and “Citibank”, for the cash withdrawal and inquiry of the balance, and pay with UnionPay cards in the stores of some famous brands, making more convenient card use.

Credit Card

Internationally universal VISA and Mastercard credit cards are used in most stores, supermarkets and high-level hotels of big cities and main scenic spots in Sri Lanka.

Tips

During the travel in Sri Lanka, you are required to respect the service of the tour guide, driver, hotel and restaurant servants, and pay proper tips. Generally, the tip of 100-500 Rupee will be paid for the meal or car renting. In addition, if the servant will help you to carry the luggage and clean the rooms, you are required to pay the tip of 20-50 Rupee.

 

 

 

 

Religion

In Sri Lanka, 70.2% of the citizens believe in Buddhism, 12.6% believe in Hinduism, and 9.7% believe in Islamism. Others believe in Catholicism and Christianity.

 

 

 

 

Tourism Service Number

Police-calling Number: 118, 119

Emergency call and medical aid: 108

Fire Number: 110

Government Information Center: 1919

First-Aid Center/Poisoning Information Center: +94-11-269-1111

24h emergency call for the Chinese citizens in the embassy: +94-77-928-8949 (mobile phone); +94-11-268-8610 (fixed line)

 

 

 

 

Notes

1. In Sri Lanka, the contents of nodding and shaking the head are in contrast to that in China. Nodding the head indicates No, shaking the head indicates Yes. But Sri Lanka is more and more international, and most people have accepted the meaning that shaking the head indicates No and nodding the head indicates Yes. They do not stick too much to the above meanings. But the means that they shake the head is different from that we do. Their head shakes left and right in the arc shape.

2. Sri Lanka was the colony of UK, and was deeply influenced by the traditional British culture, attaching high importance on the etiquette. In whatever time and occasion, the people always put the palms together, or habitually put the palms together when saying goodbye.

3. In Sri Lanka, the people do not produce any voice when eating and drinking, and even consider the voice during eating and drinking as one of the abstinences.

4. With respect to the clothing, it is recommended that the women tourists dress themselves conservatively. In the mind of many locals, the foreigners are relatively open. In addition, wearing long clothes and long trousers can avoid unnecessary disturbance, and can also prevent mosquitoes.

5. In Sri Lanka, bus fare is very cheap, and the bus conditions are poor, and the bus will stop when you shake the hand, and the bus door is never closed. The road conditions in Sri Lanka are poor. In these tips, there is the description about self-drive, but considering the safety, self-drive is not recommended. If you hope to have a free journey, it is recommended that you rent the car.

6. Generally speaking, there is very good public safety in Sri Lanka. You’d take care to avoid being stolen in Pettah Market with dense personal flow in Colombo, and the biggest problem is the money swindling of the TUTU drivers. When choosing TUTU, it is better to choose those with the charge meter or fix the price in advance. In addition, you’d pay attention to those intentionally speaking to you and promoting the activity tickets.

 

 

 

 

Festivals(Important/Historical/Folks Ones)

Date of Full Moon Day: The Fifteenth day of the lunar calendar

In Sri Lanka, “Full Moon Day” is handed down as the custom of Buddhist calendar. At the time of full moon every month, there is one festival, particularly in February, May, July and August.

Date of Independence Day: February 4

February 4 is the National Day of Sri Lanka. At the celebration of Independence Day, there will be traditional dance and military parade, to celebrate the day when Sri Lanka threw off the colonial domination.

Date of Sinhalese New Year: April 13-14 of the solar calendar

It is the most important traditional festival in Sri Lank on April 13-14 of the solar calendar every year, similar to the Chinese Spring Festival. In the New Year of Sri Lank, there is a special custom, that is, half hour before and after the New Year bell is struck is called “inauspicious period” or “doing good period”. During the festival, the people stop all activities and stay at home, or go out to listen to the chanting. Month

Date of Vel Festival: In July or August

Vel Festival is one of the most important Hinduism festivals in Colombo, and is celebrated between July and August, when the processions in two rows celebrating the God of Wars will start from the New and Old Hindu Temples in Sea Street, sending the carriage and lance of the God of Wars to Wellawatta and Bambalapitiya District, particularly to the Hindu Temple on Galle Road.