Colombo, Sri Lanka

Capital City

The population of 647,557 belies Colombo's outsized importance as Sri Lanka's commercial capital. This bustling city boasts a GDP of $122 billion, making it the economic engine of the country. However, the heavy bureaucracy is a persistent headache, and the city experiences certain levels of street crime and bribery. Tropical heat and monsoon rains are also unavoidable realities. Overall, Colombo is a dynamic urban center, but the challenges of living there are not to be underestimated.