"Every city has two histories. One is written in archives. The other is written by those who arrive there." This idea set the tone for an engaging evening of stories, history, and conversation as the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi hosted a discussion on Colombo: Port…
"Every city has two histories. One is written in archives. The other is written by those who arrive there." This idea set the tone for an engaging evening of stories, history, and conversation as the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi hosted a discussion on Colombo: Port of Call by journalist and author Ajay Kamalakaran on 15 July 2026 at the Residence of the High Commissioner, in collaboration with Chapters by Shibani.Bringing together members of the diplomatic corps, academics, authors, journalists, business leaders, students, and friends of Sri Lanka, the event celebrated Colombo not merely as a city or a port, but as a meeting place of cultures, ideas, and civilizations whose story has been shaped by generations of travellers, writers, reformers, artists, and statesmen.Welcoming the gathering, the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, Mahishini Colonne, observed that, for more than six decades, the Residence of the High Commissioner in New Delhi had served as Sri Lanka's home in India and as a place where dialogue, friendship, and cultural exchange flourish. She noted that the evening continued this tradition by creating a space for conversation around a city that has welcomed the world for centuries.Moderated by Shibani Sethi, the discussion explored the book's unique approach of telling Colombo's story through the observations of remarkable visitors, including Mahatma Gandhi, Anton Chekhov, Urabi Pasha, Mary Carpenter, and Prince Esper Ukhtomsky. Their diaries, memoirs, and travel accounts reveal Colombo's emergence as one of the Indian Ocean's great ports of call during the age of steamship travel and offer a fascinating perspective on the city's evolution as a crossroads of cultures, commerce, and ideas.Adding a personal dimension to the evening, guests were invited to share a favourite memory of Colombo or Sri Lanka before the event. Their reflections—ranging from childhood memories and literary discoveries to enduring friendships and experiences of Sri Lankan hospitality—were displayed alongside a specially curated timeline tracing Colombo's journey from an ancient harbour to the vibrant city of today. Together, they illustrated that Colombo's story continues to be written by everyone who experiences it.The discussion was followed by an interactive question-and-answer session, a book signing by the author, and Sri Lankan refreshments, allowing guests to continue the conversations inspired by the book.The event reflected the High Commission's continued commitment to promoting Sri Lanka's rich cultural and literary heritage while strengthening people-to-people ties and fostering deeper understanding between Sri Lanka and India through dialogue, literature, and shared histories.As guests departed with signed copies of the book and new stories to reflect upon, the evening reaffirmed literature's unique ability to build bridges across borders and generations, bringing Colombo, for one evening, to the heart of New Delhi.