The Whiteaway Building, built around 1907–1908, is a striking colonial-era structure located on Sir Baron Jayatilaka Mawatha (formerly Prince Street). After being locked up for nearly 30 years due to civil unrest, this historic site has been restored and brought back to life, reclaiming its place among the iconic landmarks of Colombo Fort.
The Lloyd’s Building in Colombo, originally known as the Freudenberg Building, is one of the finest examples of colonial-era commercial architecture in the city. Completed in 1908, this imposing five-story Georgian-style structure stands on Sir Baron Jayathilaka Mawatha (formerly Prince Street) and represents the wave of grand buildings that rose at the turn of the 20th century, when Colombo was transforming into a thriving commercial hub of the British Empire.
Walking into the Taj Samudra Hotel from Galle Face Road, visitors often notice a colonial-era building standing apart from the main hotel complex. This elegant structure is the Grand Crystal Ballroom, once known as the Colombo Club Chambers. Built in 1871, it is now a protected monument under Sri Lanka’s Department of Archaeology.
The Grand Oriental Hotel (GOH) is one of Colombo’s two oldest hotels. Built in 1837, the property first served as a Dutch military hospital before its transformation into a grand luxury hotel in 1875. Perfectly situated just outside the Colombo Harbor jetty, GOH became a landmark stopover for colonial travelers, sailors, and dignitaries passing through what was then Ceylon.
Traveling on the road from Kantale to Trincomalee, past the Mollipotana area, you’ll see a range of hills on the left. This small mountainous area has about three peaks, each over 200 meters high.
One of these peaks is located near the Kurulupanna Wewa Reservoir (Pareippanna Kulama), a large, solitary rock hill. The top of this hill is covered by a single rock slab spanning an area of about 25–30 acres.
An ancient reservoir, the Giritale Tank, is believed to have been built by King Agbo II between 608 and 623 AD. The Mahavamsa chronicle mentions that King Parakramabahu I (1153-1186 AD) “brought water from the Giritale to Kadurudamana through the Kaveri Canal.”
The Ambokka ambalama is said to be about 300 years old. This well-preserved ambalama is small and square-shaped, constructed from stone. Four polished stone pillars are placed vertically on a small base, supporting the roof. Four more horizontal pillars are placed between the vertical ones, creating ledges for travelers to sit on.
The Sirimangalapura gedige in Somawathie is strong evidence that settlements and construction in the Seruwila area continued until the Polonnaruwa period. While the main building was constructed in the gedige style, evidence of some constructions from the earlier Anuradhapura period has also been found at the site.
This complex of ruins is located on a hilltop at the end of the Neelapanichchankulama Wewa Reservoir bund, situated on the border between the Kuchchaveli and Gomarankadawala Divisional Secretariats. It is believed to date back to the Early Anuradhapura Period.
The Swamp Elephant of the Vil Aliya is believed to be a unique subspecies of the Ceylon elephant. These elephants are mainly found in the floodplains of the Mahaweli River, particularly within Somawathiya National Park. They are distinguished by their enormous size, large heads, unusually broad feet adapted to marshy terrain, and the absence of tusks.
The Victoria Masonic Temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka, was constructed in 1901 during the British colonial era. The temple was designed by architect Edward Skinner in a unique Neo-Georgian style infused with elements of Eastern architecture. This building serves as the central meeting place and headquarters for Masonic lodges across Sri Lanka, housing the District Grand Lodge of Sri Lanka, the Provincial Grand Lodge of Ireland, and the Superintendency of the Grand Lodge of Scotland.
The hospital, established in 1905, was named to honor Queen Victoria and her Diamond Jubilee of 1897. The hospital was designed by Edward Skinner, a British-born architect who came to Ceylon around 1894. Known for landmarks like parts of the Galle Face Hotel, Cargills, the Victoria Masonic Temple, Wesley College, and St. Andrew’s Scots Kirk, Skinner chose the Indo-Saracenic (also known as Hindu Saracenic) style, then fashionable across the British colonies.
The Dewatagaha Jumma Masjid (Dawatagaha Jumma Masjid), located in the heart of Colombo’s Cinnamon Gardens, near Viharamaha Devi Park and the Town Hall, is today one of the city’s best-known Muslim landmarks. Beyond being a place of worship, the mosque holds layers of memory and myth, interwoven with both Muslim and Sinhalese traditions. Even today, in the busy crossroads of Colombo, visitors of all faiths stop by the shrine — some to drop a coin into the till, others to light an oil lamp.
The Old Parliament Building, standing proudly near the Galle Face Green in Colombo, is one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic colonial landmarks and a powerful reminder of the island’s political evolution. Completed in 1930 during the British colonial period, it was originally constructed to house the Legislative Council of Ceylon.
The Polonnaruwa Archaeological Museum is an essential starting point for exploring the medieval capital. It features immersive scale models of the Royal Palace and monks’ hospitals, alongside a world-class collection of Chola bronzes, ancient medical tools, and intricate stone carvings that bring the 12th-century kingdom to life.
The National Museum of Colombo, a stunning 1877 Italianate palace, is Sri Lanka’s largest cultural repository. Highlights include the magnificent 9th-century Tholuwila Buddha and the jewel-encrusted throne of the last Kandyan King. From prehistoric artifacts to royal regalia, it offers an essential journey through the island’s rich heritage.
Standing tall at 356 meters (1168 feet), the Colombo Lotus Tower is the tallest structure in South Asia and one of Sri Lanka’s most talked-about landmarks. To some, it is a striking feat of design and engineering, a proud symbol of cultural heritage represented through the lotus-bud-inspired architecture. To others, it stands as a reminder of political corruption and financial mismanagement
Budubawa lies hidden within the deep forest region that forms a natural boundary between Yala National Park, Kumana National Park, and Kudumbigala Sanctuary. The site has no official signage or any access road and has remained outside the scope of any formal archaeological exploration except by treasure hunters.
At the summit of Dematagala’s rocky outcrop lies the remains of a stupa mound. In 2025, archaeological excavations were undertaken here, revealing the platform base of the stupa and the original ancient structure situated at its center. Evidence suggests that a newer stupa was constructed around the original.
The Ilavalai Lighthouse is square in design, with a hollow central shaft. A cement stairway leads to the top platform. Unlike traditional lighthouses equipped with parabolic reflectors, this structure uses a single powerful light to guide fishing boats approaching the shore.
