World War I Memorial in Kandy

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Head of the World War I Memorial in Kandy
Photo by Toshiyuki Masubuchi

Kandy, the last capital of Sri Lanka, was declared a world heritage city in 1988. With 2500 years of flourishing Buddhist heritage and British architecture since 1815, it is a city where you will find little jewels everywhere you turn.

In the small square known as Torrington Square (Also known as George R. De Silva Park), near the Kandy clock tower lies a World War I Memorial probably seen by many but not noticed. This 33 foot high gray granite monument in the shape of a cross at the top was built by the British to commemorate the soldiers who died during the First World War.

A large number of planters enrolled as soldiers during World War I in 1914-1918 died in battle. The purpose of the pillar was to honour those heroic soldiers. The names of these soldiers are engraved on the pillar.

This monument was unveiled on 11th February 1923 and Times of Ceylon, in an article on 12th March 1923, carried a detailed description of this monument as below;

The memorial has been hewn from eighteen distinct granite blocks of varying sizes and, in its completed form stands roughly 23 feet above ground level. The surfaces throughout are rough, the edges are not too sharp and the simple but effective designs are carried out in low relief so as to reserve for the memorial a distinctive Runic character.

The foundation of the column was laid in a 20-foot square excavation, proportionally deep. It was of solid concrete rising in three tiers, the bottom tier about 15 feet square and the top two 10 feet 6 inches and 9 feet square respectively. The basement of the column, immediately above ground level, 8 feet 6 inches square and rather more than 1 foot high is composed of six granite blocks, surrounding a “heart” of concrete, on which sits the pedestal or plinth. This plinth measures 5 feet 8 inches square and is 4 feet high. It consists of nine distinct blocks bonded together a large cube-shaped block in the middle, four rectangular blocks on the four facets on which the names are to be inscribed; and four blocks at the angles dressed with bevelled tops to form rounded off corners.

The 217 names will be inscribed upon four bronze tablets, one to front each facet of the pedestal, the characters being brought out in bold relief. Merely the names will be inserted, without rank, regimental number or regiment.

The shaft of the column monolithic like the cross and the shrine above it, is rather 12 feet high and 2 feet 2 inches by 1 foot 9 inches at the bottom and 1 foot 9 inches by 1 foot 3 inches at the top. The wider facets of the shaft carry a plainly decorative scheme set in panels with the text “THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE” on both sides, with the year “1914” on one side and “1919” on the other.

The side facets of the shaft are undecorated. The Celtic cross immediately above the shaft is about 4 feet 6 inches square. The “halo” of the cross is about 3 feet 6 in. in diameter, with the two outer thirds (8 inches wide each) carrying an intertwined cable design, the inner third (4 inches across) being pierced throughout the depth of the material. The boss of the cross rather over 2 feet in diameter, has a large embossed stud in bold relief in the middle. Four similar but smaller studs appear on the arms of the cross. The final shrine surmounts the cross. It measures rather over 2 feet high 1 foot 6 inches across at the roof and 1 foot 3 inches across below the roof.

There are windows worked on the frontages and doorways on the gables. There is a strikingly suggestive excellence of workmanship throughout the memorial and it cannot but be a source of pride to Ceylon residents to learn that the whole of the carving was done single handed by A.A.C. Perera who is familiarly known as Peradeniya Gal-Baas. He is the same artist who executed the new pillars at the Temple of the Tooth at Kandy some years ago when extensive renovations were carried out.

The venerable figure of the sculptor with his long flowing black beard, attracted much attention after the ceremony. Gal-Baas was presented by Mr. John Still to Col. Commandant Clifford Coffin and to Sir Anton and Lady Bertram who all expressed their warm admiration of his work. It would be unfair to conclude this report without making reference to the very valuable assistance which has been rendered by Mr. S.J. Kirby the District Engineer who has devoted much energy and time to the work of supervising the erection of the memorial. (Times of Ceylon 12-2-23)

References

Abeyawardhana, H. A. P. (2004) Heritage of Kandurata: Major Natural, Cultural, and Historic Sites. Kandy: Kandurata Development Bank, in association with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
Perera, K.N. (2023) ‘ War Memorials In Sri Lanka – Boer War (1899 -1902), First World War (1914 – 1918) And Second World War (1939 – 1945)’. Colombo: Sri Lanka Ex – Servicemen’s Association.

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Map of World War I Memorial in Kandy

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Travel Directions to the World War I Memorial in Kandy

Kandy can be reached from Colombo on the old Colombo – Kandy road (option 1) which is scenic but heavy in traffic, especially on Fridays and Sundays. However, the new Central Expressway (option 2) has opened up a new route which is longer but less cumbersome.

Route 1 from Colombo to Kandy	Route 2 from Colombo to Kandy
Through : Katunayake Expressway – Central Expressway – Kurunegala Distance :150 km Travel time: 3.20 hours Driving Directions : see on Google map	Through : Katunayake Expressway – Central Expressway – Kurunegala Distance :150 km Travel Time: 3.20 hours Driving Directions : see on Google map
Route From Nuwara Eliya to Kandy
Through : Walapane – Raja Mawatha Distance :100 km Travel Time : 3.0 hours Driving Directions : see on Google map