Colombo Fort
කොටුව
The former fortress of three colonial powers, Portuguese, Dutch and British, now Colombo's old commercial district, with a concentration of colonial buildings that is ideal for walking.
Colombo Fort was originally a seaside fortress built by the Portuguese in the 16th century and later expanded by the Dutch. After the British removed the walls, it developed into a financial and commercial centre, and it still retains many colonial-era buildings. You can walk along York Street and Chatham Street. Nearby are the Neoclassical Old Parliament Building (now the Presidential Secretariat), completed in 1930, the red-brick Cargills department store, the clock tower lighthouse, the area around the Presidential Palace, and the Old Dutch Hospital precinct, which has been converted into a dining street. These contrast with the modern World Trade Center twin towers and Port City. Some sections are near the Presidential Palace and military facilities, where photography is prohibited and roads may be temporarily closed, so follow the signs. You can walk to the Pettah market to the east, or take the train and get off at Fort station.
Opening hours
All day (most buildings viewable from outside only)
Nearby sights
- Old Dutch Hospital Precinct
- Old Colombo Lighthouse (Clock Tower)
- Pettah Market
- Dutch Period Museum
- Galle Face Green
- Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque (Red Mosque)
- Port City Colombo
- Lotus Tower