Borella is Colombo's largest suburb, occupying the eastern fringe of the city and carrying the divisional code 8 in the Colombo Municipal Council district. It sits at an interesting intersection of urban Sri Lanka — residential streets shaded by mature trees, a colonial-era golf course, active churches, and one of the country's most historically significant burial grounds, all within easy reach of the city centre. Visitors who look beyond Colombo's commercial core often find Borella a quietly rewarding place to spend a morning.
What is Borella known for?
The suburb is best known for three landmarks that reflect very different aspects of Sri Lankan life: the Kanatte General Cemetery, the Royal Colombo Golf Club, and All Saints' Church. Together they tell a story that stretches from the colonial period through to the present day. Borella also borders Cinnamon Gardens (Ward Place) to the west and the University of Colombo grounds to the south, giving the area a gentle academic and diplomatic character.
What can I see at Kanatte Cemetery?
Kanatte General Cemetery — commonly called Borella Cemetery — is Colombo's principal burial ground and one of the largest cemeteries in South Asia. Its grounds hold sections set aside for Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and Christian burials, reflecting the religious plurality of Sri Lanka as a whole. The cemetery is also the final resting place of many prominent Sri Lankans, including former heads of state and national leaders, making it a site of genuine historical interest rather than simply a place of mourning.
An associated crematorium serves Colombo's Buddhist and Hindu communities. Walking the older sections of the grounds reveals intricate Victorian-era stonework and inscriptions in Sinhala, Tamil, and English — an understated but moving record of the island's social history over the past 150 years.
What is the Royal Colombo Golf Club?
The Royal Colombo Golf Club is one of the oldest golf clubs in Asia, founded in 1879 during the British colonial period. Its course runs through Borella and adjacent Reid Avenue, threading between mature rain trees that provide welcome shade in Colombo's heat. The club retains its colonial-era clubhouse and is typically accessible to visitors through reciprocal arrangements with international golf clubs — it is worth contacting the club directly before visiting. For golfers travelling through Colombo, the course offers a rare chance to play a course with more than a century of continuous history.
What is All Saints' Church in Borella?
All Saints' Church is an Anglican church that dates to the colonial era and remains an active congregation today. The building follows a modest Gothic Revival style common to British-built churches across South Asia. Services continue to be held regularly, and the church is of interest both as a working place of worship and as a piece of colonial-era ecclesiastical architecture in the heart of Colombo.
How do I get to Borella from Colombo city centre?
Borella is around 3–5 km from Colombo Fort, depending on the exact destination within the suburb. The most straightforward options are a metered taxi, a three-wheeler (tuk-tuk), or the city bus network. Kanatte Cemetery is served by several bus routes along Kynsey Road and D.S. Senanayake Mawatha. Travel time from Fort or Pettah is typically 15–25 minutes outside peak hours, though Colombo traffic can extend this considerably in the mornings and evenings. If you are arriving from Bandaranaike International Airport, private airport transfers can drop you directly in Borella.
When is the best time to visit Borella?
Borella can be visited year-round as part of a broader Colombo city tour. The cemetery and golf club grounds are most pleasant in the early morning before the heat builds. If you plan to visit All Saints' Church or attend a service, Sunday mornings are the natural time to go. Colombo's inter-monsoonal showers (typically October–November and March–April) are short but heavy, so carrying a light rain layer is sensible in those months.
Is Borella worth visiting on a Colombo stopover?
For travellers with a genuine interest in colonial history, religious heritage, or urban Sri Lanka, Borella merits a half-morning visit. It is not a conventional tourist attraction and there are no entrance fees or set itineraries, which is precisely its appeal for independent travellers. The cemetery in particular offers a thoughtful, unhurried experience that contrasts well with the energy of Colombo's commercial districts nearby. Combine it with a drive through Cinnamon Gardens and the Viharamahadevi Park for a well-rounded morning in the city.
