Red Mosque
Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque is a historic mosque in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is located on Second Cross Street in Pettah. The mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Colombo and a popular tourist site in the city. Construction of the Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque commenced in 1908 and the building was completed in 1909. The mosque’s designer and builder were Habibu Lebbe Saibu Lebbe (an unlettered architect), and was based on details/images of Indo-Saracenic structures provided by South Indian traders, who commissioned him. It is a hybrid style of architecture, that draws elements from native Indo-Islamic and Indian architecture, and combines it with the Gothic revival and Neo-classical styles.
Originally it had the capacity for 1,500 worshippers although at the time only around 500 were attending prayers. It is a distinctive red and white candy-striped two-storey building, with a clock tower. Before other landmarks were built, some claim that the Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque was recognised as the landmark of Colombo by sailors approaching the port. In 1975 the mosque, with the assistance of the Haji Omar Trust purchased a number of the adjoining properties and commenced building an expansion to the mosque to increase its capacity to 10,000.
- Red Mosque
- Location: Colombo
- Country: Sri Lanka
- Capacity : 1500 Worshippers
