Burton’s Pillar (Rumassala Survey Tower) in Galle (ගාල්ල රූමස්සල පැරණි බර්ටන් මිනුම් කුළුණ)

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Edward's Pillar (Unawatuna Survey Tower) in Galle — Edward’s Pillar (Unawatuna Survey Tower) in Galle

A trigonometrical tower, also referred to as a trigonometric station or surveying tower, is a structure used in geodetic and land surveys to determine precise positions and distances on the Earth’s surface. These towers serve as fixed reference points for triangulation surveys.

During British colonial rule, such survey towers were constructed in various regions under British administration to aid in mapping and land surveying. These structures played a crucial role in the British Empire’s efforts to systematically chart and manage its territories.

A survey tower situated on Unawatuna’s Rumassala Hill has been identified by different authors as Edward’s Pillar or Galle Tower in historical records. However, this structure currently under discussion is named Burton’s Pillar, as indicated by an inscription at its base.

This particular tower was constructed in 1875 by W. Burton of the Public Works Department, now known as the Survey Department of Sri Lanka, as confirmed by the engraving at its foundation. The pillar consists of two cylindrical masonry segments. The lower section is positioned on a square platform made of stone blocks.

Currently, the tower has suffered from a lack of maintenance, and a significant crack runs almost from its base to the top (Situge, 2001).

The same structure has also been linked to Edward’s Pillar, yet historical descriptions of Edward’s Pillar date back to 1861—14 years before Burton’s Pillar was erected. Edward’s Pillar was originally located at Watering Point, a rocky outcrop east of the port, featuring a distinct natural red patch on its western slope (The Mercantile Marine Magazine, 1861).

Historian Brohier also places Edward’s Pillar at the peak of Rumassala Kanda and describes it as follows:

“There are few who have heard of Edward’s Pillar, which, from a distance, resembles Colombo’s Victory Column. Rising atop Rumassala Kanda, its darkened, aged surface has sparked curiosity among those who have seen it. It is a masonry column over sixty feet high, erected years ago by Mr. Edwards of the Survey Department as a trigonometrical station. The writer ascended it in 1921, using a series of ladders to conduct observations, and attests to the breathtaking panoramic view of the harbor, Galle town, and the vast landscape extending as far as Adam’s Peak (Sri Pada).”

On July 6, 2007, this survey tower was officially designated as an Archaeological Protected Monument by the Government.

References

Situge, H. (2001) ‘The Galle Tower Or Edward’s Pillar’, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka , (New Series) Vol 46, pp. 123–126.
(1861) The Mercantile Marine Magazine, VIII(85), pp. 135–140.
Brohier, R.L., 2000. Seeing Ceylon, 4th ed., Colombo 10: Sooriya Publishers.

Also See

Colonial Survey Towers of Sri Lanka

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Traveling Directions to Burton’s Pillar (Rumassala Survey Tower) in Galle

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Total distance : 5 km
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References

Also See

Map of Burton’s Pillar (Rumassala Survey Tower) in Galle

Traveling Directions to Burton’s Pillar (Rumassala Survey Tower) in Galle

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