2A02:C7C:667E:1C00:B50D:199E:D391:F00B at 18:15, 11 June 2025

2025-06-11T18:15:52Z

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{{Other uses|Pettah (disambiguation){{!}}Pettah}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Pettah
| native_name =
| settlement_type = [[Suburb]]
| motto =
| image_skyline = Pettah Floating Market.jpg
| imagesize =
| image_caption = Pettah Floating Market at dusk
| image_flag =
| flag_size =
| image_seal =
| seal_size =
| image_shield =
| shield_size =
| city_logo =
| citylogo_size =
| pushpin_map = Sri Lanka Colombo Central#Sri Lanka Colombo District#Sri Lanka
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| pushpin_mapsize =
| subdivision_type = [[List of countries|Country]]
| subdivision_name = [[Sri Lanka]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Provinces of Sri Lanka|Province]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Western Province, Sri Lanka|Western Province]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Districts of Sri Lanka|District]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Colombo District]] 11
| government_footnotes =
| leader_title = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name =
| leader_party =
| unit_pref =
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 =
| area_land_km2 =
| area_water_km2 =
| population_as_of =
| population_footnotes = | population_note =
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| timezone = Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone
| utc_offset = +05:30
| timezone_DST =
| utc_offset_DST =
| coordinates = {{coord|6|56|12|N|79|50|59|E|region:LK_type:city|display=it}}
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| elevation_ft =
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Code]]
| postal_code = 01100 <ref>{{cite web |url=http://mohanjith.net/postal_codes/western/colombo/01100-pettah.html |title=Pettah Post Office - Sri Lanka Postal Codes |publisher=Mohanjith |access-date=2013-04-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905080937/http://mohanjith.net/postal_codes/western/colombo/01100-pettah.html |archive-date=5 September 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| area_code =
| website = {{URL|pettah.lk}}
| footnotes =
}}

'''Pettah''' ({{langx|si|පිටකොටුව}} (''Piṭakoṭuwa''), {{langx|ta|புறக்கோட்டை}} (''Puṟakkōṭṭai'')) is a neighbourhood in [[Colombo]], [[Sri Lanka]], located east of the city centre [[Fort (Colombo)|Fort]], and behind the [[Port of Colombo|Colombo Port]]. The Pettah neighborhood is famous for the [[Pettah Market]], a series of open air [[Pasar malam|night pasars]] and markets. It is one of [[Sri Lanka]]'s busiest commercial areas, where a huge number of wholesale and retail shops, buildings, commercial institutions and other organisations are located.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lankainfo.com/travelinformation/pettah.htm |title=Sri Lanka - Travel Information - Colombo Pettah |publisher=Lankainfo.com |access-date=2013-04-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130324090008/http://www.lankainfo.com/travelinformation/pettah.htm |archive-date=24 March 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

The main market segment is designed like a gigantic crossword puzzle, where one may traverse through the entire markets from dawn till dusk, but not completely cover every part of it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.propertypost.lk/blog/colombo-the-famous-business-hub-of-sri-lanka/|title=Colombo, The Famous Business Hub of Sri Lanka – Stories & Advice|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-20}}</ref>

Pettah is derived from {{langx|ta|Pettai}}, an Anglo-Indian word used to indicate a suburb outside a fort. Today, the Sinhala phrase, {{lang|si-Latn|pita-kotuwa}} (outside the fort) conveniently describes the same place.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2007/03/18/tra01.asp |title=A Walk Through Pettah |newspaper=[[Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka)|Sunday Observer]] |date=18 March 2007 |access-date=24 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714190932/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/03/18/tra01.asp |archive-date=14 July 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Demographics ==
Pettah is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic area. [[Sri Lankan Moors|Moors]], Bohras and Memons are the predominant ethnic group found within Pettah, however an average amount of [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] and [[Sri Lankan Tamil|Tamil]] populations also exist. There are also various other minorities, such as [[Burgher People|Burghers]], [[Sri Lankan Malays|Malays]] and others. Religions include [[Buddhism]], [[Hinduism]], [[Islam]], [[Christianity]] and various other religions and beliefs to a lesser extent.

== Buildings and landmarks ==
Notable landmarks in the neighborhood include:
* [[Wolvendaal Church]]
* [[Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque]]
* [[Kayman's Gate]]
* Former Colombo Town Hall
* [[Colombo Dutch Museum]]
* Sammangodu Sri Kathirvelayutha Swami Kovil
* Old Town Hall Market
* Federation of Self Employees Market
* Manning Market
* [[Pettah Floating Market]]
*Cross Street Bazaars
*Central Bus Station
* [[Khan Clock Tower]]

<gallery>
File:Sri Lanka - 012 - Market street around Fort Stn & Harbour (1630266755).jpg|One of the streets that make up the [[Pettah Market]].
File:Colombo le marché aux légumes (15).jpg|One of the streets that make up the [[Pettah Market]]
File:Colombo le marché aux légumes (12).jpg|One of the streets that make up the [[Pettah Market]]
</gallery>

{{Geographic Location (8-way)
| Centre = Pettah
| North = [[Kotahena]]
| Northeast = [[Maligawatta]]
| East = [[Maligawatta]]
| Southeast = [[Hultsdorf]] <br> [[Maradana]]
| South= [[Union Place]]
| Southwest = [[Slave Island]]
| Northwest = ''Colombo Harbour''
| West = [[Fort (Colombo)|Fort]]
| image =
}}

==References==
{{wiktionary|pettah}}
{{reflist}}

{{Suburbs of Colombo}}

[[Category:Districts of Colombo]]
[[Category:Populated places in Western Province, Sri Lanka]]

{{WesternLK-geo-stub}}

Pettah, Sri Lanka - Revision history

2A02:C7C:667E:1C00:B50D:199E:D391:F00B at 18:15, 11 June 2025