Sri Lanka trip diary——Negombo

🤍Dutch Canal The Dutch Canal, also known as "Hamilton Canal" by the locals, runs through the city, starting from Puttalam and meandering towards the Colombo Port. This was an early artificial waterway constructed to transport goods to Colombo, and it remains a sight worth seeing to this day. People leisurely row small boats through it, giving off a bit of a mini-Venice vibe. 🤍St. Sebastian's Church St. Sebastian's Church, located on Sea Street, is a Gothic-style church that can be considered the most beautiful church in Negombo. It was blessed on February 2, 1936, by the then Archbishop of Colombo, Peter Mark, and was designed by Father G. Gannon. Initially, it was built to fully imitate the style of Reims Cathedral in France, but due to funding shortages, the height had to be reduced. At the entrance, one can see devout followers of all ages kneeling in prayer. 🤍St. Mary's Church Negombo is known as the center of Catholicism in Sri Lanka and is often referred to as "Little Rome." The majority of the residents are Roman Catholic, which is why there are many churches. Among them, the largest and most magnificent is St. Mary's Church, located near the post office. It began construction in 1874 and took a total of 50 years to complete, with intricate carvings. The church is decorated with solemn elegance. 🤍Negombo Lagoon The lagoon contains a large area of mangrove swamps, which attract a variety of shorebirds such as cormorants, herons, egrets, and terns to inhabit. They play and splash in the water, becoming a beautiful scenic spot along the lakeshore. #Negombo#St. Sebastian's Church#St. Mary's Church#Negombo Lagoon#Sri Lanka trip