Beira Lake
Encyclopedia
Beira Lake is a lake
in the heart of the city of Colombo
, Sri Lanka
. The lake is surrounded by many important businesses in the city. It occupied approximately 165 hectares of land 100 years ago and has been reduced to mere 65 hectares today due to various reasons. During the colonial era of the Portuguese
, and the English
the lake was used to transport goods within the city. The the lake was originally built before the colonization of the country and connected to many intricate canals providing easy way of transporting goods within the city and suburban cities.
The lake has two distinct bodies of water, the smaller lake bordering Navam Mawatha and the larger lake bordering D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha (formerly McCullum Road) the two bodies are connected by narrow canal which runs through Slave Island and the Sri Lanka Army Headquarters. The lake spills to the Indian Ocean
at Galle Face.
, Gangarama Temple and Cinnamon Grand Hotel.
With maximum length of 1 mile, the lake has been home to Colombo Rowing Club
for over 140 years and is the venue for the annual Royal Thomian Regatta
held in the month of October.
The Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre is located on the waterfront, further the People's Bank
and the Inland Revenue Department head quarters are located in close to the lake. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited
is housed in the nearby "Lake House" building.
The lake with many government owned properties has been earmarked for development including a casino district on its McCullum road water front.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in the heart of the city of Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. The lake is surrounded by many important businesses in the city. It occupied approximately 165 hectares of land 100 years ago and has been reduced to mere 65 hectares today due to various reasons. During the colonial era of the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, and the English
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
the lake was used to transport goods within the city. The the lake was originally built before the colonization of the country and connected to many intricate canals providing easy way of transporting goods within the city and suburban cities.
The lake has two distinct bodies of water, the smaller lake bordering Navam Mawatha and the larger lake bordering D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha (formerly McCullum Road) the two bodies are connected by narrow canal which runs through Slave Island and the Sri Lanka Army Headquarters. The lake spills to the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
at Galle Face.
Lesser Beira
This lake with its distinct center island and Seemalakaya is a popular recreational area in the city. The lake gives a beautiful backdrop to Nawam Mawatha which is the de facto financial district of Colombo. Also in close proximity is Bishop's CollegeBishop's College
Bishop's College in Colombo, Sri Lanka was founded by the Anglican Church of Ceylon in February 1875.It is a fee-levying private school, with over 2000 students at all grades from Kindergarten to Grade 14. The current principal is Mrs...
, Gangarama Temple and Cinnamon Grand Hotel.
Greater Beira
Lined with many large warehouses, reminiscent of its past when tea used to be transported to the port of Colombo on barges via the port access canal, the lake now is very quiet with many of the warehouses been abandoned.With maximum length of 1 mile, the lake has been home to Colombo Rowing Club
Colombo Rowing Club
The Colombo Rowing Club is the premier boat club in Sri Lanka having been founded in 1864. Its club house and boat house are located on the edge of the northern Beira Lake, at Sir Chittapalam A...
for over 140 years and is the venue for the annual Royal Thomian Regatta
Royal Thomian Regatta
The event generally known as Royal Thomian Regatta or The Regatta is the annual rowing race between Royal College, Colombo and S. Thomas' College, Mt Lavinia having begun in 1962 as the Royal Thomian Boat Race that evolved into a regatta in 1966 and now is made up of 8 events.The races are rowed...
held in the month of October.
The Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre is located on the waterfront, further the People's Bank
People's Bank (Sri Lanka)
People's Bank is a state-owned commercial bank in Sri Lanka. The Bank's headquarters are located in Sir ChittampalamA. Gardiner Street in Colombo and was established on July 1, 1961. The bank has a network of 326 local branches....
and the Inland Revenue Department head quarters are located in close to the lake. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited
Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited
Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited , also known as Lake House, is the largest newspaper company in South East Asia. It publishes three daily, three weekend, five weekly, two monthly and three annual publications in Sinhala, English and Tamil....
is housed in the nearby "Lake House" building.
The lake with many government owned properties has been earmarked for development including a casino district on its McCullum road water front.