Kollupitiya (historically known as Colpetty, administratively as Colombo 3) is a major neighbourhood of Colombo, Sri Lanka. The name Kollupitiya comes from the name of a chief from Kandy who had unsuccessfully attempted to dethrone the last king of Kandy. During the periods of Dutch and British administration, a brewery for the conversion of coconut treacle into liquor had commenced and continued operation in Kollupitiya. The suburb is a thriving commercial area containing fashionable high-end shopping malls. Some foreign embassies are located in Kollupitiya. The official residence of the prime minister is located here.

Demographics

Kollupitiya is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic area. The major ethnic communities in Kollupitiya are Sri Lankan Moors, Sinhalese, and Sri Lankan Tamils. There are also various minorities, such as Burghers. Religions include Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. Muslim traders form a large part of the Kollupitiya economy with many businesses being operated by the local Sri Lankan Moors. In recent years, the influx of a new wave of Chinese migrants to Colombo has led to an increase of Chinese shops and businesses in the area. Many Chinese migrants have opened shops and other businesses that cater towards the migrant Chinese community. Some Sri Lankan residents of Kollupitiya have also been influenced by the influx of Chinese people to the area by shopping at the Chinese-run businesses and even picking up aspects of Mandarin Chinese.

Schools

There are several government and private schools located in Kollupitiya. They are:

Diplomatic missions

Government Offices