|
Colombo (Sinhala: කොළඹ, pronounced ; (タミル語:கொழும்பு)) is the commercial capital〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Colombo is the Commercial Capital. )〕 and largest city of Sri Lanka. According to the Brookings Institution, Colombo has a population of (5.6 million ) metropolitan area, and 752,993〔 in the City proper. It is the financial centre of the island and a popular tourist destination. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, the legislative capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital since Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is within the urban area of, and a satellite city of, Colombo. It is also the administrative capital of Western Province, Sri Lanka and the district capital of Colombo District. Colombo is a busy and vibrant place with a mixture of modern life and colonial buildings and ruins. It was the legislative capital of Sri Lanka until 1982. Due to its large harbour and its strategic position along the East-West sea trade routes, Colombo was known to ancient traders 2,000 years ago. It was made the capital of the island when Sri Lanka was ceded to the British Empire in 1815, and its status as capital was retained when the nation became independent in 1948. In 1978, when administrative functions were moved to Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Colombo was designated as the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. Like many cities, Colombo's urban area extends well beyond the boundaries of a single local authority, encompassing other municipal and urban councils such as Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Municipal Council, Dehiwala Mount Lavinia Municipal Council, Kolonnawa Urban Council and Kotikawatte Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha. The main city is home to a majority of Sri Lanka's corporate offices, restaurants and entertainment venues.〔 Famous landmarks in Colombo include Galle Face Green, Viharamahadevi Park, Beira Lake, Colombo Racecourse, Planetarium, University of Colombo premises, Mount Lavinia beach as well as the National Museum. ==Etymology== The name "Colombo", first introduced by the Portuguese in 1505, is believed to be derived from the classical Sinhalese name කොලොන් තොට ''Kolon thota'', meaning "port on the river Kelani". Another belief is that the name is derived from the Sinhalese name කොල-අඹ-තොට ''Kola-amba-thota'' which means "Harbour with leafy mango trees".〔''World Executive'' (Colombo Hotels and City Guide )〕 The author of the oldest Sinhalese grammar, ''Sidatsangarava,'' written in the 13th century wrote about a category of words that exclusively belonged to early Sinhalese. It lists ''naramba'' (to see) and ''kolamba'' (ford or habor) as belonging to an indigenous source. ''Kolamba'' may also be the source of the name of the commercial capital Colombo. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Colombo」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|