Kollupitiya


Kollupitiya is a major neighbourhood of Colombo, Sri Lanka. The name Kollupitiya comes from the name of a chief from Kandy who had unsuccessfully attempted to dethrone the last king of Kandy. During the period of British and Dutch administration, a brewery had commenced in Kollupitiya which converted coconut treacle into liquor. Nowadays, the suburb is a thriving commercial area containing fashionable high-end shopping malls. Some foreign embassies are located in Kollupitiya. The Prime Minister's House is located in Colombo 3 just two blocks south of Maha Nuge Gardens; a prominent private laneway in Kollupitiya.

Demographic

Kollupitiya is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic area. But, Muslims have been living for many years here. Even now, Most of the residents are muslims and most of the ordinary grocery shops are owned by muslims in this area. The major ethnic communities in Kollupitiya are Muslims. There are also various minorities such as Sinhalese, Burghers, Tamils and others. Religions include Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity.
In recent years, the influx of Chinese expatriates to Colombo has led to an increase of Chinese shops and businesses in the area. Many Chinese expatriates have opened shops and other businesses that cater towards the Chinese expatriate community. Some Sri Lankan residents of Kollupitiya have also been influenced by the influx of Chinese people to the area by shopping at the Chinese-run businesses and even picking up aspects of Mandarin Chinese.

Schools

There are several government and private schools located in Kollupitiya. They are: