The Red Mosque — properly Jami Ul-Alfar — is the most striking building in Pettah and one of the most distinctive pieces of architecture in Colombo. Built in 1909 in an Indo-Saracenic style, it has two tall minarets striped in alternating red and white, visible from a considerable distance above the bazaar rooftops. The striped pattern extends across the facade and domes in a way that makes the building look almost like something from a picture book.
Non-Muslim visitors are generally welcome outside prayer times — dress conservatively, remove shoes, and ask permission before entering. The area around the mosque is the heart of Colombo's Muslim community, and the surrounding streets have some of the best short eats in the city.