Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque (Red Mosque)

In the midst of chaos in Pettah, the oldest commercial hub of Colombo, tall minarets and domes of red and white rises out of the clustered streets. A striking architectural wonder, a sacred place of worship, Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, commonly known as Red Mosque, is remarkable and simply stunning. Built in Indo-Islamic architecture, its unique feature is each brick coloured in red and white giving its own distinct character and style.

Highlights

  • The ‘Red Mosque’ is one of the oldest mosques in the country
  • It was built in 1908 by an architect known as Habibu Labbe Saibu Labbe
  • It is located amidst the streets of Pettah – which is a very unique position for a mosque

Overview

Located in one of the bustling streets of Pettah, the Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque also known as the red mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Sri Lanka. Upon the arrival of Arabs in Sri Lanka for trading purposes, Islamic communities settled in Galle and Colombo areas. This mosque was built in 1908 to provide a place of worship to the Muslims. The construction and design of this mosque was done by an unqualified architect known as Habibu Labbe Saibu Labbe. This mosque was built in an Indo-Saracenic style with a red and white pattern and clock tower. Unlike the traditional onion shape of the dome, the domes of this mosque are in the shape of a pomegranate. This mosque is reminiscent of the Jamek Mosque in Kuala Lampur. It has been stated that this mosque was used as the landmark of Colombo by approaching sailors. In 1975, surrounding properties were taken and the mosque was expanded and in 2007 a new four storied building was constructed.
Women can enter the mosque and have a look around as tourists. However, if they seek to enter the mosque they must ensure cover their hair, arms and legs.