Negombo

Negombo

  • මීගමුව
  • நீர்கொழும்பு
Evening in Negombo
Browns Beach
Negombo Railway Station
Angurukaramulla Temple
Nicknames: 

Punchi Romaya (Sinhala: පුංචි රෝමය, romanized: Puṁci Rōmaya, Meaning: Little Rome)
Meepura (Sinhala: මීපුර, romanized: Mīpura, Meaning: City of Bees)
Motto: 
"Unity Peace and Concord" (සමගිය සාමය සහ එකඟතාවය)
Negombo
Location in Sri Lanka
Coordinates: 7°12′40″N 79°50′19″E / 7.21111°N 79.83861°E / 7.21111; 79.83861
CountrySri Lanka
ProvinceWestern Province
DistrictGampaha
DivisionNegombo
Government
 • TypeMunicipal Council
 • BodyNegombo Municipal Council
 • MayorDon Robert Heenkenda, (NPP)
 • Deputy MayorEdward Dulip Chamara Fernando, (NPP)
Area
 • Urban
30 km2 (12 sq mi)
 • Metro
34 km2 (13 sq mi)
Elevation
2 m (6.6 ft)
Population
 • Ethnic groups
Sinhalese
Sri Lankan Tamils
Sri Lankan Moors
Sri Lankan Malays
Burghers
Sri Lankan Chinese
DemonymNegombians
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone)
Postal code
11500
Area code031

Negombo (Sinhala: මීගමුව, romanized: Mīgamuva, IPA: [miːɡəmuʋə] , Tamil: நீர்கொழும்பு, romanized: Nīrkoḻumpu, IPA: [n̪iːɾxoɻumbɯ]), also known as Punchi Romaya (Little Rome) and Meepura (city of bees), is a major city in Sri Lanka, situated on the west coast and at the mouth of the Negombo Lagoon, in the Western Province, 38 km (24 mi) from Colombo via the Colombo–Katunayake Expressway and the nearest major city from the Bandaranaike International Airport (about 9 km distance).

Negombo is one of the major commercial hubs in the country and the administrative centre of Negombo Division. Negombo has a population of about 142,136 within its divisional secretariat division. Negombo municipal boundary is fully extended throughout its Divisional Secretariat area.

Negombo is known for its long sandy beaches and centuries old fishing industry. Negombo has a large bilingual (Sinhala/Tamil) population with a clear Roman Catholic majority.