Colombo
Decide whether to visit or live in Colombo, then explore current conditions, local people, the map, and concise sourced context.
Check visit & living safetyUpdated Monday, October 19, 2026 · sourced live layer and versioned editorial content
AI-assisted, evidence-constrained research · how this page is made
Would you visit or live in Colombo?
Choose your plan and circumstances. The result changes immediately using today's advisory, weather, air-quality, and sourced local signals.
Suitable with normal precautions
Official travel guidance notes warnings regarding heavy rainfall, flooding, and landslides.
high source confidence · current planning signal, not a personal-safety guaranteeSee the evidence and calculation
- Current official alerts require extra planning
- Latest air-quality reading is not elevated
- Street crime and bribery present
- Past major terrorist attacks linked to the LTTE
- Heavy rainfall, flooding, and landslides
The score combines dated official-advisory wording, weather, air quality, sourced local context, and your selections. It does not predict crime or individual outcomes. Check local authorities and professional advice before a safety-critical decision.
Climate normals · 2016–2025
When to go: Colombo month by month
Judged purely on 2016–2025 weather records, the friendliest months in Colombo are typically January, February and March, with average daytime highs around 30–31°C. February is usually the warmest month (average high 31°C), January the coldest (average low 23°C), and May the wettest (about 425 mm). These are long-run averages, not a forecast.
| Month | Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | Rain (mm) | Sunshine (h/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30.4 | 22.6 | 104 | 10.1 |
| February | 31.4 | 23.2 | 52 | 11.1 |
| March | 31.1 | 24.0 | 104 | 10.8 |
| April | 31.1 | 24.9 | 151 | 10.3 |
| May | 29.8 | 25.4 | 425 | 8.3 |
| June | 29.0 | 25.4 | 312 | 9.6 |
| July | 28.8 | 25.3 | 229 | 9.8 |
| August | 28.5 | 25.0 | 245 | 9.7 |
| September | 28.5 | 24.7 | 289 | 8.9 |
| October | 28.6 | 24.2 | 350 | 8.3 |
| November | 28.8 | 23.4 | 413 | 7.8 |
| December | 29.6 | 22.9 | 152 | 9.3 |
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People and places shaping Colombo
AI-assisted local research, regenerated with the dated live layer. Every requested module remains visible; facts appear only after a source check, and unavailable categories explain what is still being researched.
Research updated Tuesday, October 6, 2026Past and future events in Colombo
Upcoming
No future event in Colombo currently has a sufficiently reliable date and source. This is checked again on every refresh.
Previously
No past event has been extracted for Colombo yet.
Sources checked (25)
- Colombo
- Sri Lanka's opposition leader says the rich will pay more if he wins the presidential election
- Colombo | Sri Lanka, Map, Population, & Facts | Britannica
- Colombo, Sri Lanka: All You Must Know Before You Go (2026) - ...
- colombo
- 20 BEST Things to do in Colombo, Sri Lanka - Destinationless...
- Lanificio Colombo Online Luxury Shop - Cashmere and Noble Fibres
- 10+ Incredible Things To Do In Colombo (+ Where To Eat) | The...
- 21 Famous People from Colombo, Sri Lanka | Pantheon
- Celebrities Born In Colombo, Sri Lanka | Famous Birthdays
- Famous People from Colombo, Sri Lanka | 21 Notable People ...
- Famous People From Colombo, Sri Lanka & Celebs Born In Colombo
- Who Was Born in Colombo, Sri Lanka? Famous Names and Their ...
- Famous People Born in Colombo | Celebrities & Historical Figures
- List of People from Colombo - FamousFix List
- Timeline of Colombo: History and Key Events | Timepath
- History of Colombo Timeline - Preceden
- COLOMBO: Layered Histories in a Global South City
- History of Colombo – Colombo Fort
- History of Colombo – Origins, Architecture & Culture
- Sri Lanka’s Capital: Colombo’s History & Modern Role
- 31 Best Places to Visit in Colombo - Sri Lanka Travel Pages
- THE 30 BEST Places to Visit in Colombo (2026) - Tripadvisor
- 1 Day in Colombo: 8 Things to See and Do - Laure Wanders
- Wikidata structured records for Colombo
Interactive geography
See Colombo in context
Keep the deeper context
Stable history, culture, districts, and practical reference remain in the main reading flow while the live layers above continue changing.
01 · OverviewColombo, in brief
Colombo is the executive and judicial capital of Sri Lanka, functioning as the island nation's most populous municipality and primary financial centre. Positioned on the west coast of the island within the Western Province, the city spans a recorded geographic coordinate of 6.93548 latitude and 79.84868 longitude, operating under the Asia/Colombo timezone.
The geography of Colombo consists of both land and water features, prominently highlighted by the 65-hectare Beira Lake situated in the heart of the city alongside numerous canals. The northern and north-eastern boundaries of the city are formed by the Kelani River, which empties into the sea at a delta section known locally as Modera. Within municipal boundaries, the recorded population stands at 648,034 residents, while the broader metropolitan region encompasses an estimated 5.6 million people.
Administrative jurisdiction encompasses fifteen numbered postal divisions, ranging from Colombo 1 to Colombo 15, which serve specific geographic areas and functions across the municipal limits. These divisions include Colombo 1, historically designated as the Fort district and serving as a business hub, and Colombo 7, which operates as an administrative district. Official operations and civic services are coordinated across the city, utilizing the national currency denoted by LKR while supporting multiple languages including Sinhala, Tamil, and English.
Historical and geographic growth accelerated after the territory was ceded to the British Empire in 1815, maintaining capital status through the nation's independence in 1948. Following administrative shifts in 1978 that relocated governmental functions to Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, the settlement was designated as the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. Additional geographical and municipal details regarding the settlement are accessible via Colombo and GeoNames record for Colombo.
Frequently Asked Questions about Colombo
Essential geographic, demographic, currency, and travel context verified from primary records.
01 · Q&AWhere is Colombo located and what are its coordinates?
Colombo is situated in Sri Lanka at geographic coordinates 6.9355, 79.8487, with an elevation monitored in regional geographic surveys.
02 · Q&AWhat is the population and time zone of Colombo?
Colombo has a recorded population of approximately 648,034 and observes the Asia/Colombo time zone.
03 · Q&AWhat languages and currency are used in Colombo?
Official and commonly spoken languages in Colombo include SI, TA, English, with LKR used for local transactions.
04 · Q&AHow can I check live conditions and daily updates for Colombo?
Today's Atlas provides continuous tracking for Colombo, featuring real-time weather conditions, daylight cycles, local geographic signals, and verified daily briefs.