Lying along Kumaran Ratnam Road in Slave Island, Hotel Nippon is one of Colombo’s most historic landmarks. Originally named Manning Mansions, the building was constructed in 1882 with 14 apartments intended to house members of the British military. Its fame spread internationally when it appeared in the classic film Bridge over the River Kwai, which was shot in Ceylon.

Lying between Mudalige Mawatha and Chatham Street and facing York Street in Colombo, the Australia Building today houses Laksala, the state-owned handicraft marketing organization. Erected in 1900, this structure stands as one of the many colonial-era commercial landmarks of Colombo Fort.

The historic Chartered Bank Building, completed in 1933, is a neoclassical structure infused with local character. Its most distinctive feature is the series of eight carved elephant heads, complete with tusks, that project from the pillars, blending classical grandeur with Sri Lankan symbolism.

One of the most eye-catching colonial buildings in Colombo Fort is the former headquarters of Lankem Tea and Rubber Plantations. Built just before the iconic Cargills building, this striking structure dates to around 1860 and shares a surprising resemblance in design to Cargills. With its terracotta and white brick finish, the building portrays neoclassical architecture.

The Mathews Building is a two-story structure with an additional basement, designed in early 20th-century British Colonial style. The basement level is indicated by elegantly designed cast-iron grill windows at the foot of the building. Measuring about 14 meters in length, the structure features wooden decks that separate the floors.

The Mackinnon Mackenzie Building, earlier known as the Victoria Arcade and later the York Arcade, was constructed in 1860 and originally belonged to the Earl of Inchcape. Ideally positioned on the Colombo harbor front, right next to the Grand Oriental Hotel, this was one of the first major commercial complexes a visitor would encounter upon arrival to the island.

Chatham Street in Fort is home to number of colonial buidings constrcuted in late 1800’s and early 1900’s. The De Mel Building exibiting British colonial, with Renaissance classical details is one of the buildings built toward the end of this boom. It was constructed in 1921 and is over 20,000 sq ft in extent, and consists of a basement and three floors.

Constructed in 1878, this historic two-story Neoclassical building lies at the intersection of Hospital Lane and Chatham Street in Pettah. It can be accessed either from the Economic History Museum side or from the rear of the Dutch Hospital precinct.

Completed in 1910, the Prince Building on Sir Baron Jayathilaka Road (formerly Prince Street) is a five-story landmark originally built for Harrisons & Crosfield Ltd., London. Despite being constructed on a relatively small plot, it stood out as a pioneering design in Colombo. Unlike the prevalent neoclassical style of the era, this concrete monolithic structure broke tradition, introducing a more modern aesthetic to the city’s skyline.

Built in 1915, the four-story triangular Gaffoor Building stands prominently at the junction of Layden Bastian Road and Sir Baron Jayathilaka Mawatha in Pettah, overlooking the Dutch Canal that connects Beira Lake to the Colombo Port. The building was owned by N. D. H. Abdul Gaffoor, one of the leading jewelry merchants of the time.

In front of the Central Bank building, where Janadhipathi Mawatha meets Chatham Street, lies the majestic Central Point Building built in 1914, now home to the Economic History Museum. This was then the tallest building in Colombo, boasting the tallest chandelier in Asia, spanning all five floors. It served as the office for the National Mutual Life Association of Australasia Limited, a global insurance company.

The building that now houses the Sri Lankan Airlines Cargo section on Sir Baron Jayathilaka Mawatha was originally constructed by the Dutch and served as the office of the Dutch Governor in 1786. It was later renovated by the British in 1850, giving it the unique character it carries today.

Walking through the historic quarter of Colombo, just past the President’s House, you will notice an abandoned and weather-beaten two-storied colonial building on the left. Built around 1850, this structure once formed part of the administrative offices of the British colonial government, functioning alongside the more prominent Republic Building immediately beside it.

Walking through the historic quarter of Colombo, just past the President’s House and extending towards the centuries-old St. Peter’s Church, you encounter one of hidden colonial landmarks — the Republic Building. With its long, graceful façade and two-story Neo-Classical design, this edifice has stood since 1860, witnessing more than 160 years of the island’s political and social evolution.

Built in 1910, the five-story Macan Markar Building stands between the historic Whiteaway Building and the Grand Oriental Hotel, at the corner where Sir Baron Jayathilaka Mawatha (formerly Prince Street) meets York Street.