Throughout the year, the city comes to life with various festivals and events. Here are some examples of what is on offer.
Saga is a music festival organised by the Royal College of Colombo and is one of the city's most important cultural events. In recent years, dance and drama have been added to the programme.
Fashion Week showcases more than 20 local designers with 25 shows across the week. They are joined by international designers and the Bright Sparks event highlights young and emerging designers.
Also known as Aluth Avurudda, Sinhalese New Year celebrations take place in April. Whole families celebrate in the street with firecrackers and feasts.
The book fair is hugely popular and attracts more than a million visitors over nine days. There are lots of events and readings in what is the largest book event in South Asia.