Negombo
Negombo
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| City | |
| City of Negombo | |
| Nickname(s): Punchi Romaya (Little Rome), Meepura | |
 Negombo
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| Coordinates: 7°12′40″N 79°50′19″E / 7.21111°N 79.83861°ECoordinates: 7°12′40″N 79°50′19″E / 7.21111°N 79.83861°E | |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Province | Western Province |
| Division | Negombo |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal Council |
| • Mayor | Anthony Jayaweera |
| Area | |
| • Urban | 30 km2 (11.58 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 34 km2 (13.12 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 2 m (7 ft) |
| Population (2011 census) | |
| • City | 144,551 |
| • Density | 4,958/km2 (12,840/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 265,000 |
| Demonym(s) | Negombians |
| Time zone | Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone (UTC+5:30) |
| Postal code | 11500 |
| Area code(s) | 031 |
Negombo (Sinhala: මීගමුව [ˈmiːɡamuʋə]; Tamil: நீர்கொழும்பு [nir koɭumbu]) is a major city in Sri Lanka, situated on the west coast and at the mouth of the Negombo Lagoon, in Western Province. Negombo is the fourth largest city in Sri Lanka and it is also the administrative capital centre of Negombo Division. Negombo is one of the major commercial hubs in Sri Lanka and it is a very important economic centre in the country with about 144,551 inhabitants within city limits.
It is approximately 35 km (22 mi) north of Colombo. Negombo is known for its centuries old fishing industry, with busy fish markets and long, sandy beaches. Negombo is a westernised, vibrant city and it is one of the major tourist destinations in the country. The main international airport of Sri Lanka is in Negombo Metropolis.
The name "Negombo" was first used by the Portuguese; the Sinhala name Mīgamuva (මීගමුව) means the "Group of Bees". It was named a few centuries before in the ancient kings' era. The army of King Kavantissa found bee honey in a canoe near the seashore, for Viharamahadevi who was pregnant with the prince Dutugamunu. Because of this, the place was named "Mee-Gomuwa".
The wild cinnamon that grew in the region around Negombo was said to be "the very best in the universe as well as the most abundant" and for centuries attracted a succession of foreign traders and colonial powers. The shallow waters of the Negombo Lagoon provided safe shelter for seafaring vessels and became one of the key ports (along with Kalpitiya, Puttalam, Salavata, Kammala, Colombo, Kalutara, Beruwala and Galle) from which the Singhalese kingdoms conducted external trade.
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Wikipedia