Dehiwala-Mount
Lavinia
Dehiwala-Mount
Lavinia är en förort liggande i den västra provinsen,
på den västra kusten. Det är en residentsförort
söder om Colombo. Själv förorten är uppdelad i
mindre distrikt, bla. Dehiwala, badorten Mount Lavinia
och Galkissa. Ortens befolkningsmängd var 1989, 193
000.
Colombo
Colombo
är den administrativa huvudstaden på Sri Lanka och
huvudmynning för floden Kelani Ganga. Det har sin
viktiga storhet i de stora floder som ger skydd åt
hamnen som ligger i staden. Colombo har hand om den
största delen av den utländska handeln. Stadens
tillverkning inkluderar metaller, textiler, kläder och
kemikalier.
Sri Jayawardenepura
(innan Kotte), den juridiska huvudstaden på Sri
Lanka, is on the outskirts of Colombo. The business
section of Colombo, called the Fort, occupies the sites
of the former fortified area. Broad avenues and modern
buildings contrast with the narrow, crooked streets
and ramshackle structures of the Pettah quarter. Among
the hospitals is the Pasteur Institution. Places of
worship include Christian churches, Muslim mosques,
and Buddhist temples. The University of Colombo (1967),
Sri Lanka Technical College (1893), and other institutions
of learning are located in the city. The early name
of the city, Kalan-totta (Kelani ferry), derived from
a nearby river ferry point, was corrupted into Kolambu
by the Arabs and changed to Colombo in 1517 by the Portuguese
in honor of Christopher Columbus. The city was taken
by the Dutch in 1656 and by the British in 1796. Population
(1990 estimate) 615,000.
Moratuwa
Moratuwa,
city, southwestern Sri Lanka, in the Western Province,
on the Indian Ocean, near Colombo. Industries include
the manufacture of furniture, rubber products, batteries,
and wood handicrafts. The city also is a fishing and
trading center. It is the site of the University of
Moratuwa (1966). Population (1990 estimate) 170,000.
Kotte
Kotte,
town in western Sri Lanka, in Western Province, a suburb
of Colombo, in a low-lying, formerly marshy area. From
1415 until replaced by Colombo in 1565, Kotte was the
capital of a Sinhalese kingdom. Now officially known
as Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, the town is the legislative
and judicial capital of Sri Lanka. Population (1990
estimate) 109,000.
Galle
Galle,
formerly Point de Galle, city and seaport, southern
Sri Lanka, capital of Southern Province. Galle exports
rubber, tea, rope, coconut oil, fiber, and coir yarn.
Galle was of little importance until the 16th century,
when much of Sri Lanka was occupied by Portugal. During
the Portuguese period and the later era of Dutch occupancy,
it was a busy commercial port. Following the improvement
of the port of Colombo by Great Britain during the 19th
century, the prosperity of Galle declined. Population
(1990 estimate) 84,000.
