Editing Colombo (section)

=== After independence ===
[[File:SL Independence.jpg|thumb|The formal ceremony marking the start of self-rule at [[Independence Square, Colombo|Independence Square]].]]
This era of colonialism ended peacefully in 1948 when Ceylon gained independence from Britain.<ref name="PostI">
{{cite book  | last =Adrian  | first = Wijemanne  | title = War and Peace in Post-Colonial Ceylon 1948–1991  | publisher = Orient Longman  | date = 1996 | pages = 111  | isbn = 978-81-250-0364-9 }}</ref> Due to the tremendous impact this caused on the city's inhabitants and on the country as a whole, the changes that resulted at the end of the colonial period were drastic. An entire new culture took root. Changes in laws and customs, clothing styles, religions and [[proper names]] were a significant result of the colonial era.<ref name="PostI"/> These cultural changes were followed by the strengthening of the island's economy. Even today, the influence of the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British is visible in Colombo's architecture, names, clothing, food, language and attitudes. Buildings from all three eras stand as reminders of the turbulent past of Colombo. The city and its people show an interesting mix of European clothing and lifestyles together with local customs.<ref name="PostI"/>

Historically, Colombo referred to the area around the ''[[Fort (Colombo)|Fort]]'' and ''[[Pettah Market]]'' which is known for the variety of products available as well as the [[Khan Clock Tower]], a local landmark. At present, it refers to the city limits of the [[Colombo Municipal Council]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Administrative Districts of the Colombo Municipal Council |url=http://www.cmc.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64&Itemid=85 |publisher=Colombo Municipal Council |access-date=11 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106233608/http://www.cmc.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64&Itemid=85 |archive-date=6 January 2013 }}{{Circular reference|date=February 2016}}</ref> More often, the name is used for the [[Conurbation]] known as [[Greater Colombo]], which encompasses several [[Municipal council]]s including [[Kotte]], Dehiwela and Colombo.

Although Colombo lost its status as the capital of Sri Lanka in the 1980s to Sri Jayawardanapura, it continues to be the island's commercial centre. Despite the official capital of Sri Lanka moving to the adjacent Sri Jayawardanapura Kotte, most countries still maintain their [[diplomatic mission]]s in Colombo.<ref name="emb1">''GoAbroad.com'', [http://embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-in/sri-lanka Embassies located in Sri Lanka] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302031441/http://embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-in/sri-lanka |date=2016-03-02 }}</ref>