Sri Lanka Special – Cool as Colombo
There are three versions of Colombo that travellers encounter: the city that was, the city that is and the city that it aspires to be. From an old colonial asylum in Cinnamon Gardens that was converted to a plush shopping arcade, now derelict, to sleek skyscrapers in a neighbourhood where Dutch colonisers once held slaves, and a constant remaking of its public spaces, every now and then, all three versions of the city converge with each other. Any Sri Lanka itinerary that skips the capital is missing out. An inchoate city still discovering itself and always shape-shifting, Colombo is open to endless explorations. Here’s an insider’s run through the city’s mindblowingly diverse food, ancient and contemporary cultural scene, its priceless bargains and shopping spots. Read more
