Archive · 25 Sep 2025
Colombo Cemetery: A Lesson in Peaceful Coexistence
Imagine a place where everyone, no matter their beliefs or background, lives peacefully together.
That's like the Kanatte Cemetery in Colombo, Sri Lanka!
The author shares memories and observations of this special place where people from all walks of life are buried side-by-side.
It’s a place that shows that even after death, everyone is equal.
Unlike some places where people are separated based on their differences, this cemetery embraces everyone.
It's like a big, quiet neighborhood for the dead, filled with trees, animals, and lots of stories.
The author frequently visited graveyards as a child, and finds herself drawn to Kanatte Cemetery.
Kanatte Cemetery in Colombo is a place where different faiths and races are buried together.
The cemetery was intended to be organized, but became an exercise in pluralism.
Sri Lankan civil war dead from opposing sides rest near each other.
The cemetery is home to various wildlife thriving in its ecosystem.
- Who
- The article's author, and those buried in the cemetery
- What
- Reflection on the pluralism observed at Colombo's Kanatte Cemetery.
- When
- The article was written in the present, reflecting on past experiences.
- Where
- Kanatte Cemetery in Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Why
- To illustrate that true unity can be found in death, regardless of differences.
- Location
- Kanatte Cemetery, Colombo
- Founded
- 1866
- Cemetery Size
- 48 acres
- Number of Residents
- 50,000 (approx.)
- Notable Feature
- Pluralistic environment