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Colombo Sri Lankas commercial capital is a forceful creation of European colonialists who occupied the island for over four centuries Its urban structure displays the social fragmentation sought by the rulers Colombo elaborates an extraordinary process of citymaking stratified with its Dutchorigin Britishreshaping and postcolonial adaptation Proclaiming such a contested past as an inheritance requires an inclusive heritage interpretation The recent renovation of monumental buildings for potential market values and demolishing minor architecture do not display such a heritage interpretation This placing undue attention on a selected social group is found to be further emptying the compartmentalized city The exclusion of some subsocieties also cost possible stewardship to urban heritage Having observed the nonsustainability of current heritageinterpretation practised in Colombo we searched for alternative means to unify societies in timespace thus sustaining the diversity of urban spaces Our empirical studies have established the need to integrate the inherent cultural values of the colonialbuilt urban fabric in heritage interpretation The results of vibrant heritageinterpretation results have been studied through a literature survey with aims to contribute towards the development of an inclusive heritage interpretation practice to protect Colombos colonial past sustainably
