Co·lom·bo (k?-l?m?b?) The capital and largest city of Sri Lanka, on the western coast of the island on the Indian Ocean. The city was probably known to Greco-Roman, Arab, and Chinese traders more than 2,000 years ago. It became capital of the crown colony of Ceylon in 1802 and of independent Ceylon in 1948.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.Colombo (k??l?mb??) n (Placename) the capital and chief port of Sri Lanka, on the W coast, with one of the largest artificial harbours in the world. Pop: 653 000 (2005 est)Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014Co?lom?bo (k??l?m bo?) n. the capital of Sri Lanka, on the W coast. 587,647. Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.