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Do you know the best residential area in Colombo during the Dutch times? Grandpass Image Source:Independent Source:Independent Do you know the best residential area in Colombo during the Dutch times? Yes it was ‘Grandpass’ : (from Grande Passo) Some old Dutch houses and even a Dispensary are still there? Other interesting names that still survive from those days: Main Street: (Roa Direto). The Dutch remembered one of their governors – Hulft who died during the siege of Colombo, with Hulftsdorp and recalled some of their native place names like Leyden and Delft. The Dutch named Maliban Street to identify the fashionable promenade in Pettah – Maliban meaning the MMall. Kayman’s Gate refers to ‘kayman’ – crocodiles that were found in the area where the rivulet entered the sea. Wolvendaal meant the dale of wolves. Bloemendahl is a vale of flowers. Korteboam means short trees. ...