Sri Lanka is a country of diverse religions. Whilst Buddhism is by far the predominant religion (70% of Sri Lankans identify as Buddhist), Islam was brought to Sri Lanka by Arab traders in the 7th century and 1 in 10 Sri Lankans are muslim. So while you’re going to see plenty of gorgeous Buddhist temples, like the must-see Gangaramaya Temple, you should definitely make a stop in the Pettah market district of Colombo to see Mosquée Jami Ul Alfar, commonly referred to as The Red Mosque.
The History Of The Red Mosque
Mosquée Jami Ul Alfar has a long and fascinating history. In the 18th and 19th century, the fort in Colombo was a bustling market for trade between the Arabs, Indians, the Dutch and the British. Pettah, which literally means ‘outside the fort’ was an area full of markets and bazaars, many of which were owned by Indian muslims. These devout muslims needed a place to pray 5 times a day near the market. The Masjid land where The Red Mosque now stands was bought by wealthy Indian businessmen and set up as a trust which still exists today.
Designed and built by H L Saibo Lebbe, building commenced in 1908 and the original structure was two stories and included a clocktower. Completed in 1909, the mosque had the capacity for 1,500 worshippers, although only about 500 regularly attended.
Reflecting the diverse history of Sri Lanka, the building incorporated the examples of Indian and Indo-Islamic architecture, as well as the Neo-Classical styles favoured at the time by the British (for example the British Houses of Parliament on London).
The Red Mosque Today
In 1975, the mosque purchased a number of the adjacent properties and began construction to expand the striking red and white striped building. In 2007, work began on an adjoining 4-storey wing and today, it is the biggest mosque in Sri Lanka, with the capacity for 10,000 worshippers.
