|
Politics,
vendors and kite fliers in the centre of
Colombo. Spend a few hours watching the many
faces of Colombo here.
Drive
south on the main artery road from Colombo
Fort past the Presidential Secretarait to Galle
Face Green. This largest open
space in Colombo could tell many a tale. It
is many things to people; an ideal spot for
lovers who hide from gazing crowds and the
sun behind umbrellas; a playground for
children with roadside vendors selling
brightly coloured balloons, kites, toys,
soft drinks and ices; an arena for
professional to debate issues of the day;
and a popular hangout for teenagers.
Observe
local colour like the kite seller who
displays hundreds of fluttering discs of
myraid colours. In the evening, vendors push
their carts laden with banana chips and
fried lentils to vantage points.
Whether
rich or poor, Gale Face has no barriers. The
Green has seen political rallies and musical
extravanganzas. It was used for horse racing
a century ago and the promenade along the
sea, stretching for nearly a mile, was built
in 1859 by the British Governor Sir Henry
Ward for 'the ladies and children of
Colombo'. Thanks to his foresight, the Green
retains much of its old charm, with no
buildings tomar the beauty of the wide open
space.
On
one side is Galle
Face Hotel. Boasting yestrerday's
charms and today's luxury, it is the oldest
hotel this side of the Suez. Due to its
eccentric chairman, the hotel retains much
of the old style without much care for
comfort or service. A wing remains closed at
a time tourists are crying out for
nostalgia. The hotel has some fine old
furniture and the ballroom - now used mainly
for weddings - boasts of high ceilings,
balconies and memories of a bygone era.
Halfway
down across road is the statue of a former
Prime minister of Sri lanka, S W R D
Bandaranaike, who paid the supreme sacrifice
for trusting people too much. He was slain
after only three years in office.
|
General Section
