::COLOMBO CITY TOUR::

0830 CCT Commences from Galle Face Hotel

0840hrs - Picking -up of passengers from City Hotels en route

0915 – 0935 hrs ST. LUCIA’S CATHEDRAL

Named after this virgin and martyr saint is St. Lucia’s Cathedral of Kotahena, the oldest and largest parish cathedral in Sri Lanka and the seat of the Archbishop of Colombo. Situated at Kotahena to the north-east of Colombo this magnificent edifice sprawled on 18,240 sq. feet of land, rises to a height of 150 feet and has the capacity to accommodate 6,000 people in its nave.

1035 – 1205 hrs NATIONAL MUSEUM OR shopping at ODEL

The Colombo National Museum was established on 1st January 1877. It’s founder was Sir William Henry Gregory, the British Governor of Ceylon (Sri Lanka.) Housed in a fine colonial – era building, the Museum is famous for collections of ancient royal regalia, Sinhalese art work, (carvings, sculptures etc.) antique furniture, chains, and Ola manuscripts. The museum contains more than 4,000 palm leaf manuscripts and ancient and medieval jewelry.

Drive through St. Bridget’s Convent (school attended by the world’s 1st woman Prime Minister), National Centre for Performing Arts Theatre, Rosemead Place, Main postal Head Office , Town Hall etc.

0945 – 1000 hrs WOLFENDAL CHURCH

A remnant of the Dutch period, this stone church on Wolfendal Street, built in 1749 has unique tombstones set into the floor, which were moved from a church in the Fort in 1813.

1000 – 1015 hrs

Drive through Sugathadasa Stadium, Armour Street, Supreme Court Complex, Pettah Market, Central Bus Stand, Fort Railway Station, Lake House Complex, Buddhist Temple with Pagoda, Old Parliament, Air Force Base, Galle Face Area, 1st Mile Post, Ministry of Tourism, Temple Trees (Official Residence of The Prime Minister), Colpetty Police Station, Liberty Plaza Shopping Complex , Media Centre for National Security, Embassy of United States of America etc

1015 – 1030 hrs GANGARAMAYA SEEMA MALAKAYA

What was once a swamp adjoining the famous Beira Lake, is now a landmark in the capital city. It has expanded into a vibrant complex comprising the Gangaramaya Temple, the ”Seemamalakaya” – an assembly hall for buddhist monks – and a vocational training institute in the picturesque Beira Lake. The temple has been in existence for over 120 years having being established by one of the most famous scholar monks, “Venerable Hikkaduwe Sri Sumanagala Nayaka Thera”, founder of the “Vidyodaya Pirivena”, originally an institute of oriental learning for monks, now a state university – the Sri Jayawardenepura University.

Pass through National Library, Vihara Mahadevi Park, Western Province Chief Minister’s Office etc

1320 – 1330 hrs DAWATAGAHA MOSQUE

Dewatagaha Mosque in Lipton’s Circus, Colombo, has become a byword in every Muslim home, and no Muslim pass the shrine of the saint without paying his respects. The 150-year-old shrine is the resting-place of the Muslim saint, His Holiness Seyadina as-Sheikh Usman Siddique Ibn Ahdurrahman, who visited Ceylon from Arafat, Arabia and visited Adam’s Peak and Dafter Jailani shrine at Balangoda, and later resided in what was later known as Cinnamon Gardens.

1330 – 1400 hrs – Proceed through Borella General Cemetery, Castle Maternity Hospital, Diyawanna Oya, Speaker’s Official Residence, War Hero’s Memorial, New Parliament Complex etc.

Before the colonial period, Sri Lanka was a Monarchy, Thereafter, administrative and governmental reforms were introduced under the Portuguese, Dutch and British rulers. Firstly the maritime Dutch territories and subsequently the Kandyan Kingdom came under the British rule in 1815. According to the recommendations of the Colebrook-Cameron Commission, The Executive Council and the Legislative Council- the first legislative bodies of colonial Ceylon - were set up by the Governor, Sir Robert Horton, in 1833. The Picturesque Parliament complex is the design of the famous Asian Architect Geoffrey Bawa, based on ‘Panchayatana’, an ancient Sri Lankan monastic architectural style.

1400 – 1445 hrs – Visit JANAKALA KENDRAYA / NATIONAL CRAFTS COUNCIL, Battaramulla (45 mts) and view a cultural performance.

The Crafts Village at Battaramulla, set amidst a serene and calm backdrop is known as the ‘Jana Kala Kendraya’. It is a sprawling village-style craft estate and traditional dancing performing academy at which various indigenous traditional art forms of Sri Lanka can be enjoyed and viewed. Craftsmen can be seen patiently at work adding life and colour to various crafts and works of art. Various items can be directly bought from them at reasonable and low prices unmatched anywhere else in Colombo.

1445 – 1505 hrs – Pass through D.S Senanayake College, All Ceylon Buddhist Congress Hall, Meteorological Department, Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) And replica of the Aukana Buddha Statue

The Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall is the premier location in Sri Lanka for international conferences, trade & academic shows, exhibitions, etc

1505 – 1515 hrs – Visit INDEPENDENCE SQUARE

Independence Commemoration Hall (also Independence Memorial Hall) is a National monument in Sri Lanka built for commemoration of the Independence of Sri Lanka from the British rule with the establishment of Dominion of Ceylon on February 4, 1948. It is located at the Independence Square (formally Torrington Square) in the Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo. The monument was built at the location where the formal ceremony marking the start of self rule, with the opening of the first parliament by the HRH Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester occurred at a special podium on February 4, 1948. Located at the head of the monument is the statue of the first Prime Minister of the country Rt. Hon. Don Stephen Senanayake the "The Father of the Nation". Most of the annual National Independence Day celebrations have been held here.

1515 – 1530 hrs – Drive past Sports Ministry Grounds, Nidahas Mawatha, National Archives, Race Course, Royal College, Colombo University etc.

1545 Return to commencement point at GALLE FACE HOTEL