Pettah, Sri Lanka

Pettah (Sinhala: පිටකොටුව (Piṭakoṭuva), Tamil: புறக்கோட்டை (Puṟakkōṭṭai)) is a neighbourhood in Colombo, Sri Lanka located east of the city centre Fort, and behind the Colombo Port. The Pettah neighborhood is famous for the Pettah Market, a series of open air bazaars and markets. It is one of Sri Lanka's busiest commercial areas, where a huge number of wholesale and retail shops, buildings, commercial institutions and other organisations are located.

The main market segment is designed like a gigantic crossword puzzle, where one may traverse through the entire markets from dawn till dusk, but not completely cover every part of it.

Pettah is derived from Tamil: Pettai, an Anglo-Indian word used to indicate a suburb outside a fort. Today, the Sinhala phrase, pita-kotuwa (outside the fort) conveniently describes the same place.

Demographics

Pettah is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic area. Moors, Bohras and Memons are the predominant ethnic group found within Pettah, however an average amount of Sinhalese and Tamil populations also exist. There are also various other minorities, such as Burghers, Malays and others. Religions include Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and various other religions and beliefs to a lesser extent.

Buildings and landmarks

Notable landmarks in the neighborhood include:

• Wolvendaal Church
• Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque
• Kayman's Gate
• Former Colombo Town Hall
• Colombo Dutch Museum
• Sammangodu Sri Kathirvelayutha Swami Kovil
• Old Town Hall Market
• Federation of Self Employees Market
• Manning Market
• Pettah Floating Market
• Cross Street Bazaars
• Central Bus Station
• Khan Clock Tower

References