“Kolamba” (Anglicised “Colombo”) is a Sinhalese word; meaning port, ferry, harbor or haven. Colombo was originally a small seaport used by Moor, Arab, Persian and Chinese sailing vessels. Following the occupation of the coastal provinces of Ceylon by Portuguese, Colombo became the center of the Portuguese rulers and after the annexation of Kandyan territory by the British in 1815 it became the capital of the whole island.