Penguin Random House India Announces the Publication of Colombo: Port of Call

Colombo: Port of Call traces Sri Lanka’s capital as a global crossroads of empire, travel, and culture through the eyes of iconic visitors of a bygone era.

on Dec 25, 2025

Penguin Random House India Announces the Publication of Colombo: Port of Call

Penguin Random House India is pleased to announce the publication of Colombo: Port of Call by Ajay Kamalakaran, releasing next month.

Set during the golden age of steamships and empire, Colombo: Port of Call explores Sri Lanka’s capital as a pivotal crossroads between East and West. Once a vital stop for ships travelling to Australia, China, and Japan, Colombo emerged as a meeting point for global trade, cultures, and influential travellers.

Through the impressions of figures such as Arthur Conan Doyle, Anton Chekhov, Mark Twain, Don Bradman, and Mahatma Gandhi, the book presents a richly layered social history. It captures the colonial hierarchies, imperial attitudes, and lingering nostalgia of an era defined by grand hotels, ocean voyages, and global passage.

Colombo: Port of Call will be available in stores and online next month.