Malabe (Sinhala: මාළබේ, Tamil: மாலபே) is a suburb of Colombo in the Colombo District, Sri Lanka. It is situated on the New Kandy Road (Kaduwela Road) about 10 km (6.2 mi) away from the centre of the commercial capital Colombo. This suburb is a crucial economic centre in Colombo.

Malabe
මාළබේ
மாலபே
Motto: 
The Cyber suburb of Colombo
Malabe is located in Sri Lanka
Malabe
Malabe
Location of Malabe in Sri Lanka
Coordinates: 6°54′13″N 79°57′17″E / 6.90361°N 79.95472°E / 6.90361; 79.95472
CountrySri Lanka
ProvinceWestern Province
DistrictColombo District
Elevation
28 m (92 ft)
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (SLT)
Postal Code
10115 [1]

Etymology edit

The name ‘Malabe’, is believed to be derived from the classical Sinhala name මහ ලැහැඹ Maha Lahamba, meaning "the large forest".

Industries edit

 
MillenniumIT

Malabe is the home to the MillenniumIT (known as Millennium Information Technologies or MIT), a Sri Lankan-based information technology firm that specialises in electronic trading systems and a fully owned technology business sector of London Stock Exchange Group, SPAR.

Education edit

There is a number of state and private schools in Malabe and there are several private degree-awarding institutes.

Private Higher Education Institutes edit

Schools edit

  • Malabe Boys Model School
  • Sri Rahula Balika Maha Vidyalaya
  • Horizon International School
  • Sussex International School

Demographics edit

Malabe is a Sinhala majority area; there are minor communities belonging to other ethnic groups, such as Moors and Tamils. Malabe has some Buddhist religious places of the Sinhalese belonging to the Theravada school which includes the local branch of the Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery

Infrastructure edit

Transportation edit

New Kandy Road from Ethul Kotte to Balummahara via Malabe, Kaduwela, Weliweriya and extending to Kandy along A1 highway.

Other means edit

  • A proposed Multi-modal transport hub is to be constructed to link the city to the Colombo Monorail and BRT.
  • Malabe is located near the entrance to the Outer-circular Expressway Kaduwela interchange.

Suburbs edit

References edit