Sprawling on the edge of Diyawanna Lake, Rajagiriya is a large suburb in south-east Colombo. Its name is believed to derive from the Malayali words for large mongoose (“raja kiriya”) after a mongoose was spotted in the grounds of philosopher Ananda Coomaraswamy’s residence by a servant.
Things to do in Rajagiriya
Rajagiriya’s commercial district centres around Jana Jaya City Mall, a multi-storey shopping destination with more than 200 retail stores. You can pick up a new pair of sunglasses at Aviator Colombo, browse the footwear at Jazzy Shoes or shop for gifts at Sudath Handicraft. International films are screened at the Savoy Premier cinema.
Occupying the marshy banks of Diyawanna Lake is Diyatha Uyana, a landscaped park that opened to the public in 2012. You can stretch your legs on the waterfront walking trails, let the kids run loose in the children’s playground and dine at the Water’s Edge floating restaurant. Adjacent to the Diyatha Fountain is an aquarium filled with exotic fish. Built on an island in the middle of Diyawanna Lake is the impressive Parliament of Sri Lanka building designed by Geoffrey Bawa.
On the other side of Rajagiriya is the Royal Colombo Golf Club, which was established in 1880 and is the oldest golf club in Sri Lanka. Its course was originally located at Galle Face Green before being relocated to Borella in 1896. In addition to its 18-hole course, there is a well-stocked pro shop, a driving range and a clubhouse overlooking the eighth green.
Getting around Rajagiriya
Rajagiriya is around 10 minutes’ drive from the centre of Colombo and 40 minutes from Bandaranaike International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Local buses connect to Rajagiriya and rickshaws are readily available for getting around the area.