Colombo 01–15 are numbered postal areas within Colombo city. The names run from Fort in Colombo 01 to Mattakkuliya, Modara, Mutwal and Madampitiya in Colombo 15. They are not a complete list of Colombo District or every place people call a Colombo suburb.
Use the first table for the Colombo 1 to 15 name list. The sections below separately explain Colombo suburbs, Greater Colombo, Colombo South and the official Colombo District divisions.
Colombo 1 to 15 names and areas
| Colombo number | Main area name | Other commonly used names or neighbourhoods |
|---|---|---|
| Colombo 01 | Fort | Kotuwa, Colombo Fort |
| Colombo 02 | Kompanna Veediya | Union Place; formerly called Slave Island in English |
| Colombo 03 | Kollupitiya | Colpetty |
| Colombo 04 | Bambalapitiya | — |
| Colombo 05 | Narahenpita, Havelock Town | Kirulapone North |
| Colombo 06 | Wellawatte, Pamankada | Kirulapone South |
| Colombo 07 | Cinnamon Gardens | Kurunduwatta |
| Colombo 08 | Borella | — |
| Colombo 09 | Dematagoda | — |
| Colombo 10 | Maradana | Panchikawatte |
| Colombo 11 | Pettah | Pitakotuwa |
| Colombo 12 | Hulftsdorp | Aluthkade |
| Colombo 13 | Kotahena, Bloemendhal | Kochchikade |
| Colombo 14 | Grandpass | — |
| Colombo 15 | Mattakkuliya, Modara, Mutwal | Madampitiya |
These are the names most commonly associated with each numbered area. A neighbourhood or road can meet a postal boundary, so use the postcode for the exact delivery address rather than choosing a Colombo number from this table alone. Sri Lanka Post explains that postcodes zone the country for mail sorting and delivery.
For the five-digit codes, use the separate Colombo postal codes and zip codes guide.
Detailed Colombo 1–15 area guide
The numbered areas are useful for postal addressing, but each contains neighbourhood names that people use more often in conversation. These profiles explain the usual association without pretending that every road follows a perfectly visible boundary.
Colombo 01: Fort
Colombo 01 is Fort, or Kotuwa. It is the historic central business and transport area around Colombo Fort railway station, the World Trade Center, the Presidential Secretariat and the port-facing commercial district. Pettah begins immediately to the east but has a different number: Colombo 11.
Use “Colombo 01” only for an address inside the Fort postal area. Its five-digit postcode is 00100. A company may market a nearby development as being in central Colombo without that building actually belonging to Colombo 01.
Colombo 02: Kompanna Veediya
Colombo 02 is Kompanna Veediya, with Union Place and parts of the Beira Lake surroundings commonly associated with it. “Slave Island” is the former English name and still appears in older addresses, maps and business records.
For current official use, Kompanna Veediya is the appropriate name. Gazette Extraordinary No. 2333/03, effective from 22 May 2023, replaced the English name “Slave Island” with “Kompanna Veediya” for the Grama Niladhari division. The Colombo 02 postcode is 00200.
Colombo 03: Kollupitiya
Colombo 03 is Kollupitiya, also widely called Colpetty. It is the central coastal area around Galle Road, the Kollupitiya railway station, Liberty Plaza and adjoining commercial and residential streets. Cinnamon Gardens is inland in Colombo 07, while Bambalapitiya continues south in Colombo 04.
Both Kollupitiya and Colpetty may be understood locally, but formal addresses commonly use Kollupitiya or Colombo 03. The postcode is 00300.
Colombo 04: Bambalapitiya
Colombo 04 is Bambalapitiya, the coastal city area immediately south of Kollupitiya. It includes addresses around Bambalapitiya railway station, Galle Road, Marine Drive and streets extending inland toward Havelock Town.
Colombo 04 should not be used as a general label for every southern Colombo neighbourhood. Wellawatte is mainly Colombo 06, and Dehiwala is outside the numbered city system. The Colombo 04 postcode is 00400.
Colombo 05: Narahenpita and Havelock Town
Colombo 05 commonly covers Narahenpita, Havelock Town and Kirulapone North. Important location references include Narahenpita’s government and medical-service area and the Havelock Road corridor. The boundary is inland rather than a simple strip along Galle Road.
Kirulapone is a frequent source of confusion because the northern portion is associated with Colombo 05 and the southern portion with Colombo 06. Confirm the exact road and postcode instead of assigning all Kirulapone addresses to one number. Colombo 05 uses 00500.
Colombo 06: Wellawatte and Pamankada
Colombo 06 is mainly Wellawatte and Pamankada, with Kirulapone South also associated with the zone. It stretches across the coastal Galle Road and Marine Drive side and inland residential areas. Wellawatte railway station and the Wellawatte market area are useful location references.
An address described broadly as “Colombo South” is not automatically Colombo 06. Dehiwala, Mount Lavinia and other southern suburbs have their own locality names and postcodes. Colombo 06 uses 00600.
Colombo 07: Cinnamon Gardens
Colombo 07 is Cinnamon Gardens, also known as Kurunduwatta. Independence Square, Colombo Town Hall, Viharamahadevi Park, the National Museum and many diplomatic and institutional premises are in or around this leafy central area.
The name is sometimes used loosely in property descriptions, so verify the postal address when a location lies near Borella, Kollupitiya or Narahenpita. The Colombo 07 postcode is 00700.
Colombo 08: Borella
Colombo 08 is Borella. It is a major inland junction and mixed residential, medical and commercial area. Borella General Cemetery, the junction and nearby hospital precincts are common reference points.
Roads leading toward Cinnamon Gardens, Narahenpita, Dematagoda and Rajagiriya cross into other numbered or suburban areas. A short travel distance does not mean the postal number remains the same. Colombo 08 uses 00800.
Colombo 09: Dematagoda
Colombo 09 is Dematagoda, an inner-city area north-east of Borella and east of Maradana. Dematagoda railway station and Baseline Road are familiar location references, while adjoining parts of Grandpass and Kolonnawa use different postal identities.
Do not confuse Dematagoda with Colombo 10 simply because both are close to Maradana’s transport corridor. The Colombo 09 postcode is 00900.
Colombo 10: Maradana
Colombo 10 is Maradana, with Panchikawatte commonly associated with the area. Maradana railway station, the technical-college area and the Panchikawatte motor-parts district are practical reference points.
Pettah is Colombo 11, Borella is Colombo 08 and Dematagoda is Colombo 09. Businesses sometimes use “Maradana” broadly, so the five-digit postcode is the safer check for an exact address. Colombo 10 uses 01000.
Colombo 11: Pettah
Colombo 11 is Pettah, also called Pitakotuwa. It is the dense market and wholesale district directly east of Fort, around the central bus stands, cross streets and commercial bazaars.
Fort and Pettah operate as one connected city centre for many journeys, but they are not the same postal zone: Fort is Colombo 01 and Pettah is Colombo 11. The Colombo 11 postcode is 01100, which should not be confused with Colombo’s 011 telephone area code.
Colombo 12: Hulftsdorp
Colombo 12 is Hulftsdorp, also widely known as Aluthkade. The courts complex and surrounding legal and commercial streets are the area’s best-known references. It lies north of the Pettah–Maradana side and south of Kotahena.
Because Aluthkade is often used as the everyday place name, users sometimes omit Colombo 12 from addresses. The numbered area remains useful for postal clarity, and its postcode is 01200.
Colombo 13: Kotahena and Bloemendhal
Colombo 13 commonly includes Kotahena and Bloemendhal, with Kochchikade also associated with the southern side of the area. It is part of the northern city belt between central Colombo and Modara.
Kochchikade can be ambiguous because the name occurs in more than one part of Sri Lanka. Adding Colombo 13 and the postcode helps distinguish the city locality. Colombo 13 uses 01300.
Colombo 14: Grandpass
Colombo 14 is Grandpass, an inner northern area linked by major roads to Pettah, Dematagoda, Orugodawatta and the port-side districts. The everyday boundary can be hard to infer from a nearby junction or business name.
Orugodawatta and Wellampitiya are generally handled through suburban postal areas rather than being additional Colombo numbers. Grandpass itself uses the Colombo 14 postcode, 01400.
Colombo 15: Mattakkuliya, Modara, Mutwal and Madampitiya
Colombo 15 includes several names rather than one single neighbourhood: Mattakkuliya, Modara, Mutwal and Madampitiya. It covers much of the city’s northern coastal and river-side end beyond Kotahena and Grandpass.
Spellings such as Modera or Mutuwal may appear in older or informal records. Use the form already recognised for the property and include Colombo 15 / 01500 when appropriate. Nearby Wattala and Hendala are outside Colombo city and in Gampaha District.
Common questions about Colombo numbers
Is Colombo 1 the same as Colombo 01?
Yes. Colombo 1 and Colombo 01 refer to the same numbered area, Fort. Addresses commonly use the two-digit form Colombo 01. Its related five-digit postcode is 00100, which is a different field and should retain all leading zeros.
This pattern continues through Colombo 09. Colombo 7 and Colombo 07 both mean Cinnamon Gardens, while 00700 is the postcode.
Is there a Colombo 16 or Colombo 20?
The familiar city sequence used for addresses runs from Colombo 01 to Colombo 15. External suburbs do not continue that sequence. Dehiwala, Nugegoda, Maharagama, Kotte, Battaramulla and Moratuwa use their own locality names and five-digit postcodes.
Numbers such as 10120 or 10250 are postcodes, not “Colombo 20” or “Colombo 250.” Reading the five-digit code as a city-zone number creates incorrect addresses.
Is Colombo the capital of Sri Lanka?
Colombo is Sri Lanka’s commercial capital and largest city centre. Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte is the administrative capital. Kotte is immediately east of Colombo and belongs to the wider metropolitan area, but it is not one of the Colombo 01–15 zones.
This distinction explains why a national institution may be described as being in the capital area while its postal address says Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, Rajagiriya or Battaramulla rather than a Colombo number.
Are Dehiwala and Nugegoda in Colombo?
Both are in Colombo District and are commonly treated as Greater Colombo suburbs. Neither is inside the Colombo 01–15 list. Dehiwala is part of the south-coastal urban area, while Nugegoda is an inland suburban centre.
In conversation, “in Colombo” can mean the metropolitan area. On an address or official form, use the specific locality, postcode and administrative fields requested.
Are Colombo 1–15 suburbs?
The numbered areas are best understood as Colombo city postal areas. People sometimes call the individual neighbourhoods “suburbs,” but Colombo 01–15 should not be treated as a list of the wider suburbs outside the city boundary.
The distinction is useful because the systems overlap but are not identical:
- Colombo 01–15 identifies numbered city and postal areas.
- Colombo Municipal Council administers the city through its own municipal structure. Its city profile says Colombo covers 37 square kilometres and is divided into six districts for administrative purposes—not 15. See the Colombo Municipal Council city profile.
- Colombo District is a much larger government district containing Colombo city and many other localities.
- Greater Colombo is a broad metropolitan term whose boundary varies by planning or everyday context.
Colombo is Sri Lanka’s commercial capital. Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, immediately east of Colombo, is the country’s administrative capital.
Colombo suburbs list
There is no single everyday boundary that everyone uses for “Colombo suburbs.” The following is a practical grouping of places commonly described as being in Colombo or its connected suburban area. It is not a substitute for an official postal or administrative address.
| Broad direction from central Colombo | Commonly included suburbs and urban areas | District note |
|---|---|---|
| South coast | Dehiwala, Mount Lavinia, Ratmalana, Moratuwa | Colombo District |
| South and south-east | Nugegoda, Kohuwala, Kalubowila, Boralesgamuwa, Maharagama, Kottawa, Pannipitiya, Piliyandala, Homagama | Colombo District |
| Capital and eastern side | Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, Rajagiriya, Nawala, Battaramulla, Pelawatte, Thalawathugoda | Colombo District |
| North-east and Kelani corridor | Kolonnawa, Wellampitiya, Gothatuwa, Kotikawatta, Angoda, Malabe, Athurugiriya, Kaduwela | Colombo District |
| North of Colombo | Peliyagoda, Kelaniya, Wattala, Hendala | Commonly grouped with metropolitan Colombo, but in Gampaha District |
This distinction prevents a common address error: Nugegoda, Battaramulla, Dehiwala and the other external suburbs are not additional Colombo 01–15 numbers. They have their own locality names and postcodes.
Colombo suburbs by corridor and locality
A useful way to understand the metropolitan area is by the roads, rail lines and neighbouring centres that connect it. These are practical orientation groups, not newly created administrative regions.
Dehiwala, Mount Lavinia, Ratmalana and Moratuwa
These places form the main coastal urban corridor south of Colombo city. Dehiwala begins beyond the Wellawatte side; Mount Lavinia continues south around the coastal town and railway station; Ratmalana lies farther south and inland; and Moratuwa is the next large municipal area along the coast and Galle Road.
All four are in Colombo District, but none is a Colombo 01–15 postal number. Their main postal-town codes are Dehiwala 10350, Mount Lavinia 10370, Ratmalana 10390 and Moratuwa 10400. Kalubowila and Attidiya are commonly associated with this wider corridor but require the exact delivery address.
Nugegoda, Kohuwala, Maharagama and Kottawa
This busy south-eastern corridor connects the city with large inland residential and commercial areas. Nugegoda is a major junction and service centre; Kohuwala lies between Nugegoda and the Dehiwala side; Maharagama is farther south-east; and Kottawa connects onward toward Homagama and the expressway network.
Neighbourhood labels overlap along roads such as High Level Road. Nugegoda is 10250, Maharagama 10280 and Kottawa 10220 as postal towns, but a nearby smaller locality may use another delivery office. This corridor is part of Colombo District, not the numbered Colombo city zones.
Kotte, Rajagiriya, Nawala and Battaramulla
The eastern side of the urban area includes Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, Sri Lanka’s administrative capital, together with Rajagiriya, Nawala, Ethul Kotte, Pita Kotte and nearby neighbourhoods. Battaramulla extends the government and residential corridor farther east, with Pelawatte and surrounding localities commonly grouped with it in everyday usage.
Kotte is a city and administrative area in its own right, not another name for Colombo 07 or Colombo 08. Main postal references include Sri Jayewardenepura 10100, Rajagiriya 10107 and Battaramulla 10120. Nawala commonly uses Rajagiriya’s delivery area, but the exact street should be checked.
Thalawathugoda, Malabe, Athurugiriya and Kaduwela
These eastern and south-eastern suburbs form a broad residential, education and employment corridor beyond Battaramulla. Thalawathugoda sits between the Kotte side and Hokandara; Malabe lies farther east; Athurugiriya is south-east of Malabe; and Kaduwela is associated with the Kelani River side and routes toward the outer district.
Their postal towns use separate codes—Talawatugoda 10116, Malabe 10115, Athurugiriya 10150 and Kaduwela 10640. The different number families show why distance from central Colombo is not a reliable way to guess a postcode.
Kolonnawa, Wellampitiya, Gothatuwa and Angoda
This north-eastern inner-suburban belt begins close to the Colombo city boundary. Kolonnawa is the main postal-town reference for many Wellampitiya, Gothatuwa and Orugodawatta-side addresses, while Angoda is commonly served through the Mulleriyawa New Town postal area.
The corridor is continuous with Dematagoda, Borella and Grandpass in everyday travel, but it is outside the Colombo 01–15 sequence. Kolonnawa is 10600 and Mulleriyawa New Town is 10620; boundary streets need post-office confirmation.
Peliyagoda, Kelaniya, Wattala and Kiribathgoda
These northern metropolitan areas are often included in business or property descriptions of Greater Colombo. Administratively, however, Peliyagoda, Kelaniya, Wattala and Kiribathgoda are in Gampaha District, across or north of the Kelani River from Colombo city.
That district distinction matters on official forms. It also affects postal addressing: Peliyagoda is 11830, Kelaniya 11600, Wattala 11300 and Kiribathgoda 11601. “Near Colombo” is not a replacement for the correct district or postal town.
Which Colombo number is this area in?
This quick comparison covers common boundary mistakes:
| Place searched | Correct way to classify it |
|---|---|
| Fort | Colombo 01 |
| Kompanna Veediya / Union Place | Colombo 02 |
| Kollupitiya / Colpetty | Colombo 03 |
| Bambalapitiya | Colombo 04 |
| Narahenpita / Havelock Town | Commonly Colombo 05 |
| Wellawatte / Pamankada | Commonly Colombo 06 |
| Cinnamon Gardens / Kurunduwatta | Colombo 07 |
| Borella | Colombo 08 |
| Dematagoda | Colombo 09 |
| Maradana / Panchikawatte | Colombo 10 |
| Pettah / Pitakotuwa | Colombo 11 |
| Hulftsdorp / Aluthkade | Colombo 12 |
| Kotahena / Bloemendhal | Colombo 13 |
| Grandpass | Colombo 14 |
| Mattakkuliya / Modara / Mutwal | Colombo 15 |
| Dehiwala, Nugegoda, Rajagiriya or Battaramulla | A separate suburb or city locality, not Colombo 01–15 |
| Kelaniya, Wattala or Kiribathgoda | Greater-Colombo locality in Gampaha District, not Colombo city |
For a road at the edge of two areas, use the address assigned to the property. A landmark across the road may belong to a different postal area.
What is Greater Colombo?
Greater Colombo generally means the continuous urban area formed by Colombo city and surrounding municipalities and suburbs. In ordinary property, travel and business usage, it may include places such as Kotte, Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia, Kolonnawa, Nugegoda, Battaramulla, Maharagama and Moratuwa.
The term does not replace an official district, municipal council, Divisional Secretariat division or postcode. Its exact boundary can change with the purpose of a planning document or dataset. When completing a government, banking, delivery or legal form, enter the specific locality and administrative area requested rather than writing only “Greater Colombo.”
Colombo city, Colombo District and Greater Colombo compared
| Term | What it means | What it should not be used for |
|---|---|---|
| Colombo city | The municipal city containing the numbered Colombo postal areas | A label for every suburb in Colombo District |
| Colombo 01–15 | Numbered city/postal areas from Fort to the northern city neighbourhoods | A sequence that continues into Nugegoda or Dehiwala |
| Colombo District | An official administrative district containing the city and many external suburbs | A single town or single postal area |
| Greater Colombo | A flexible description of the connected metropolitan area | The district or locality field on an official form |
| Western Province | The province containing Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara districts | Another name for Colombo District |
The correct term depends on the question. A commuter may reasonably say that Wattala is in Greater Colombo, while a government form correctly records it in Gampaha District.
Colombo South areas list
“Colombo South” is also a practical geographic description rather than one fixed postal division. Depending on the context, it can refer to:
- the southern city areas, especially Bambalapitiya and Wellawatte;
- the coastal belt through Dehiwala, Mount Lavinia, Ratmalana and Moratuwa; and
- nearby inland suburbs such as Kohuwala, Nugegoda, Kalubowila, Boralesgamuwa, Maharagama and Piliyandala.
For an address, school zone, electoral matter or government service, check the named authority’s boundary instead of relying on “Colombo South” alone.
Why Colombo area boundaries do not always match
One address can sit inside several valid geographic systems at the same time. Confusion begins when a name from one system is copied into a field asking for another.
Postal town and postcode
The postal town and five-digit postcode identify the mail-delivery area. A popular neighbourhood may be delivered through a neighbouring postal town, so the everyday locality name is not always a separate entry in the Department of Posts directory.
The Colombo 01–15 numbers belong to the city postal system. External suburbs use codes such as Nugegoda 10250, Rajagiriya 10107 and Dehiwala 10350 rather than continuing with Colombo 16, 17 or 18. See the full Colombo postcode guide for the distinction.
Municipal council or other local authority
Local authorities handle municipal or local-government functions within their legal areas. Colombo Municipal Council, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte Municipal Council and Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia Municipal Council are separate authorities even though their built-up areas connect.
An advertisement saying “Colombo” or “Greater Colombo” does not prove which council handles rates, approvals or local services. For property or business matters, check the rates notice, assessment number or official local-authority record.
Divisional Secretariat and Grama Niladhari divisions
Divisional Secretariat divisions and Grama Niladhari divisions are government administrative units. Their names and boundaries answer different questions from postal delivery. A form may legitimately ask for the district, Divisional Secretariat division and Grama Niladhari division as separate fields.
Do not infer a GN division from a postcode table. Use an official government record or confirm with the relevant Divisional Secretariat when a certificate, benefit, election or land matter depends on it.
Electoral, police, education and service boundaries
Electoral divisions, police areas, education zones, health districts and utility-service areas are designed for their own functions. They may cross or subdivide the place names used in everyday conversation.
For school admission, use the boundary and documents named in the current admission circular. For police, health, utility or electoral services, ask the responsible authority. A map labelled “Colombo suburbs” is an orientation aid, not evidence of eligibility.
How to identify the correct area for a form
- Read the field label: locality, postal town, city, district, province, Divisional Secretariat division and local authority are not synonyms.
- Copy the established postal address from a reliable property record when the form asks where mail should be sent.
- Use an official identity, rates, utility or government record for administrative fields.
- If the property is near a boundary, contact the specific authority responsible for the form.
- Keep spellings consistent, but do not replace a current official name with an older English label merely because it is better known online.
For example, a person may describe a home as being in Greater Colombo, use Rajagiriya as the postal town, belong to Colombo District and fall under a specific Kotte-area administrative division. All of those descriptions can be valid in their proper fields.
Official Colombo District divisions
Colombo District extends far beyond Colombo 01–15. The Department of Census and Statistics identifies 13 Divisional Secretariat divisions in the district:
| Divisional Secretariat division | Divisional Secretariat division |
|---|---|
| Colombo | Kolonnawa |
| Kaduwela | Homagama |
| Seethawaka | Padukka |
| Maharagama | Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte |
| Thimbirigasyaya | Dehiwala |
| Ratmalana | Moratuwa |
| Kesbewa | — |
The department’s 2024 Census final report confirms that Colombo District has 13 Divisional Secretariat divisions. Its detailed Colombo District Grama Niladhari report provides the division names and explains that each contains multiple Grama Niladhari divisions.
This is an administrative list, not a list of only 13 towns. A suburb may sit within one of these divisions while using a different postal locality or local-authority name.
How to write the correct Colombo area in an address
- Use the actual locality or neighbourhood shown in the official address.
- Use Colombo 01–15 only when the address is inside that numbered postal area.
- Add the correct five-digit postcode for mail or delivery forms.
- If a form asks for the district, Divisional Secretariat division or local authority, provide that administrative area—not “Greater Colombo.”
- Confirm an uncertain boundary or postcode with the relevant post office or government office.
For postal use, check the Colombo postcode list and follow Sri Lanka Post’s postcode guidance rather than guessing from a nearby suburb.
Sources and boundary notes
- Sri Lanka Post: Postcodes — purpose and use of postal zones and postcodes.
- Gazette Extraordinary No. 2333/03 — official English name change to Kompanna Veediya.
- Colombo Municipal Council: City of Colombo — municipal city profile and administrative distinction.
- Department of Census and Statistics: Census of Population and Housing 2024 — current district administrative structure.
- Department of Census and Statistics: Colombo District GN statistics — named Divisional Secretariat divisions and GN structure.
