Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque, Pettah, Colombo

Jami Ul Alfar Mosque, Colombo, Sri Lanka (3 September, 2005)

Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque (GPS: 6.9385, 79.85159) is a beautiful mosque at Second Cross Street, in the Pettah Bazaar area of Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is one of the most striking buildings in Colombo. Completed in 1909, the Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque is striped red and white like a layer cake, a design that is reminiscent of another mosque which was also completed in 1909, the Masjid Jamek of Kuala Lumpur. Admittedly, though, the Jami-Ul-Alfar is the more garish of the two. The architect of the Jami-Ul-Alfar was one H.L. Saibo Lebbe, and construction began in 1908, completing the following year.

When I explored Colombo on foot with a few members of AsiaExplorers, we deliberately checked out the Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque. We were graciously admitted into the mosque to admire the structure, which I photograph to share with you here.