As Colombo possesses a natural harbour, it was known to Romans, Arabs, and Chinese traders over 2,000 years ago.

Traveller IbnBahuta who visited the island in the 14th century, referred to it as Kalanpu.Arab s whose prime interests were trade, began to settle in Colombo around the 8th century AD mostly because the port helped their business and controlled much of the trade between the Sinhalese kingdoms and the outside world. Their descendants now comprise the local Sri Lankan Moor community.This relaxed coastal city has a colourful history that dates back to the 5th century when Colombo’s small port was an important point of the east-west sea trade. It is now a mixture of ancient, colonial and modern influences. Old ancestral mansions stand side-by-side with the ritzy condominiums that are springing up into the skyline. Street bazaars buzz right next to a few modest shopping malls. While some roads are clogged with vehicles, there remain many sleepy tree-lined boulevards.