# Colombo District, Western Province – DS divisions & Population > Source: https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/western/colombo/ District · Western Province # Colombo District Colombo District is a district of Sri Lanka in Western Province. It had an estimated **2,459,998 people** in 2023 on 688 km² (about 3,575 per km²). Its main town is Colombo. It is divided into 13 DS divisions. 562 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 5,425 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools. - 2,459,998people (2023) - 688km² - 13DS divisions - 5,425mapped services ## How many people live in Colombo District? Colombo District had an estimated **2,459,998 people** in 2023 — 39.9% of Western Province, the most populous of 25 districts. There are 1,038 women for every 1,000 men (below the Western Province figure of 1,054). Spread over 688 km², that is about **3,575 people per km²**, the most densely populated of 25 districts. 21.7% of people are children under 15 and 8.8% are 65 or older; the median age is about 33 years (it is 32 across Western Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 44 children and older people. 0–4 ****176,371** 5–9 ****183,028** 10–14 ****174,027** 15–19 ****186,105** 20–24 ****205,392** 25–29 ****197,622** 30–34 ****202,748** 35–39 ****181,114** 40–44 ****175,207** 45–49 ****160,835** 50–54 ****152,070** 55–59 ****131,082** 60–64 ****116,930** 65–69 ****86,467** 70–74 ****54,817** 75–79 ****37,410** 80+ ****38,773** Source: [Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka via OCHA HDX, population estimates 2023 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-lka). ## Where is Colombo District? Colombo District lies in [Western Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/western/), [Sri Lanka](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/). It borders 4 other districts: [Gampaha District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/western/gampaha/), [Kalutara District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/western/kalutara/), [Kegalle District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/kegalle/) and [Ratnapura District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/ratnapura/). By area it is the smallest of 25 districts in Sri Lanka. It covers 18.3% of [Western Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/western/). The centre point is at 6.8482° N, 80.0286° E. Local names: කොළඹ දිස්ත්‍රික්ක · கொழும்பு மாவட்டம் . Source: [Survey Department of Sri Lanka via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-lka). ## DS divisions of Colombo District Divisional Secretariat division Area km² GN divisions Services [Colombo DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/western/colombo/colombo/) 25 35 897 [Dehiwala DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/western/colombo/dehiwala/) 8.5 15 323 [Homagama DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/western/colombo/homagama/) 120 81 187 [Kaduwela DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/western/colombo/kaduwela/) 87 57 482 [Kesbewa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/western/colombo/kesbewa/) 61 73 290 [Kolonnawa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/western/colombo/kolonnawa/) 26 46 132 [Maharagama DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/western/colombo/maharagama/) 38 41 440 [Moratuwa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/western/colombo/moratuwa/) 19 42 164 [Padukka DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/western/colombo/padukka/) 106 46 63 [Ratmalana DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/western/colombo/ratmalana/) 13 13 252 [Seethawaka DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/western/colombo/seethawaka/) 146 68 124 [Sri Jayawardanapura Kotte DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/western/colombo/sri-jayawardanapura-kotte/) 16 20 472 [Thimbirigasyaya DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/western/colombo/thimbirigasyaya/) 22 20 1,599 Source: [Survey Department of Sri Lanka via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-lka); [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/). ## Largest towns in Colombo District - Colombo648,034 - Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia219,827 - Maharagama195,355 - Moratuwa168,280 - Pita Kotte118,179 - Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte115,826 - Battaramulla South75,633 - Kolonnawa64,887 - Kotikawatta64,565 - Homagama34,664 - Mulleriyawa33,540 - Hanwella Ihala22,918 - Mawalgama2,033 Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/). Populations as recorded in GeoNames, which may be older than the estimates above. ## Landscape and landmarks of Colombo District Named natural and historic features inside Colombo District, from the GeoNames gazetteer. ### Water 25 rivers and streams; 6 reservoirs and tanks; 5 lakes. - Alige Oya - Angamuwa Ela - Arukwatta Oya - Beira Lake - Boralasgamu Wewa - Dematagoda Ela - Diyawanna Lake - East Lake - Gatahetta Oya - Heen Ela - Kalatuwawa Ela - Kesbewa Wewa - Kimbue Kotuwa Ela - Kimbulawala - Kinda Ela - Kittanpahuwa Ela - Kolonnawa Ela - Labugama Reservoir - Maha Ela - Maha Ela - Maha Oya - Maha Oya - Mahawatte Ela - Maligakande Reservoir …and 12 more. ### Coast and islands 3 headlands; 2 islands; 1 beach. - Battenburg Point (historical) - Crow Island - Galbokka Point - Maduruduwa - Mt Lavinia Beach - Mutwal Point ### Hills and mountains 11 hills; 4 mountains. - Labugamkanda · 360 m - Tikpolahena · 319 m - Panyagala · 309 m - Elawalikanda · 255 m - Ratugonakanda · 183 m - Pohorabawakanda · 171 m - Ukgalakanda · 164 m - Miriyagallakanda · 110 m - Belungalkanda · 64 m - Ambulgama · 52 m - Nawagama · 37 m - Getaherakanda · 31 m - Nawagam Kanda · 18 m - Kirillapone · 12 m - Maligakanda · 11 m ### Forests and nature 1 forest reserve; 1 park. - Kanampella Forest Reserve - Price Park ### History 1 palace. - Temple Trees ### Estates 79 estates; 47 rubber estates; 9 oil-palm estates; 8 estates. - Akbari - Alubogahalanda - Alupotta - Ambulande Group - Angulana - Atherfield Estate - Attanapola - Awissawella - Awissawella - Ayr - Baduwila - Balcombe - Bambooatana - Bank Hill - Batakettara - Batapandure - Batmalana Group - Bellair - Belmont - Black Pearl - Bopekanda - Brindabana - Brooklands - Brookside …and 119 more. ### Getting around 6 railway stations; 3 lighthouses; 1 airport; 1 harbour. - Baseline Road - Colombo Galbokka Lighthouse - Colombo Lighthouse (historical) - Colombo Pilot Station Lighthouse - Cotta Road - Fort Station - Kottawa - Pannipitiya - Ratmalana - Ratmalana Airport - Trawler Harbor Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/). Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate. ## Weather in Colombo District and the best time to visit In Colombo District, the warmest month is Apr (average 28 °C) and the coolest is Jan (25 °C). About 1,999 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Nov (304 mm) and the driest Feb (71 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **January to March and July to August**. - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec Month Average °C Rain mm Jan 25 76 Feb 26 71 Mar 27 115 Apr 28 226 May 27 224 Jun 27 143 Jul 26 99 Aug 26 113 Sep 26 162 Oct 26 292 Nov 26 304 Dec 26 175 Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/). ## Hospitals, banks and other services in Colombo District Places mapped inside Colombo District in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations. - Hospitals271 - Banks624 - ATMs119 - Petrol pumps129 - Hotels802 - Shopping malls82 - Schools662 - Colleges and universities440 - Cinemas75 - Pharmacies179 - Restaurants1,898 - Police stations86 - Dental clinics58 Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/). Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown. ## Colombo in history The 11th edition of the *Encyclopaedia Britannica* (1911) described Colombo as follows. Its wording reflects its time; spellings are as printed. > COLOMBO, the capital and principal seaport of Ceylon, situated on the west coast of the island. Colombo stands to the south of the mouth of the river Kelani. The coast-land is here generally low-lying, but broken by slight eminences. The great artificial harbour, enclosed by breakwaters, is bounded on the south by a slight promontory. This is occupied by the quarter of the city known as the Fort, from the former existence of a fort founded by the Portuguese and reconstructed by the Dutch. In 1869 the governor, Sir Hercules Robinson (afterwards Lord Rosmead), obtained authority to demolish the fortifications, which were obsolete for purposes of defence, and required 6000 men to man them properly. The levelling of the walls and filling up of the moat made the Fort much more accessible and healthy, and since then it has become the business centre of the city. Here are situated Queen’s House, the governor’s residence; the secretariat or government offices, and other government buildings, such as the fine general post office and the customs house. Here also are most of the principal hotels, which have a peculiarly high reputation among European hotels in the East. A lofty tower serves as the principal lighthouse of the port and also as a clock-tower. On the south side of the Fort are extensive barracks. Source: [Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th edition (1911) — public domain; transcription via Wikisource](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica). Boundaries in 1901 may differ from today's; sentences describing castes or communities are omitted. ## Quick answers - Where is Colombo District?In Western Province, Sri Lanka - What is the population of Colombo District?2,459,998 (2023 estimate) - What is the median age in Colombo District?About 33 years (2023 estimate) - What is the population density of Colombo District?About 3,575 people per km² - What borders Colombo District?Gampaha District, Kalutara District, Kegalle District and Ratnapura District - What is the largest town in Colombo District?Colombo - How many reservoirs and tanks are in Colombo District?6 named in GeoNames - What is the highest point in Colombo District?Labugamkanda (360 m, GeoNames elevation model) - What is the best time to visit Colombo District?January to March and July to August - How many hospitals are in Colombo District?271 mapped - How many banks are in Colombo District?624 mapped - How many ATMs are in Colombo District?119 mapped - How many petrol pumps are in Colombo District?129 mapped - What is the P-code of Colombo District?LK11 (OCHA common operational dataset)