Heritage

Historic Civil Defence Force Headquarters Building in Colombo (කොළඹ ග්‍රාමාරක්ෂක මූලස්ථානය ගොඩනැගිල්ල)

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Historic Civil Defence Force Headquarters Building in Colombo

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.

The colonial building at No. 11, Sir Baron Jayatillake Mawatha (formerly Prince Street) is a two-story structure, believed to have been built around 1850. Unlike many colonial buildings of its time, it lacks the long verandah or corridor that was a common architectural feature of the period. Instead, its design is simple yet striking, with the two floors separated by a wooden floor. (Manathunga, 2005/2020)

The entrance doorway is semicircular, flanked by rows of pillars that now appear as semi-reliefs, having been absorbed into later wall additions. On either side of the entrance stand large arched windows, mirrored by matching glass windows with balustrades on the upper floor. The roof, adorned with ten finials, adds a decorative flourish to the otherwise understated exterior. (Manathunga, 2005/2020)

Over the years, this building has been adapted for different purposes, serving at various times as the Colombo Library, the Government Information Department, and later the Civil Defence Force Headquarters.

Impact of the Civil War

During the 30-year war with the Tamil Tiger terrorists, the area around the President’s House was declared a high-security zone. Civilian access was restricted, and many of the colonial-era buildings along this street, including No. 11, were abandoned. While most of these structures found new life after 2009 with the end of the war, this building remains in a neglected state, its quiet walls bearing witness to Colombo’s colonial history.

Heritage Value

Though easily overlooked, this modest colonial office retains quiet heritage value. Alongside the Republic Building and the Lloyds Building, it helps to illustrate the urban fabric of 19th-century Colombo, when the Fort was the epicenter of colonial administration and commerce. Preserving such lesser-known buildings is vital, for they enrich the city’s story and serve as reminders of an era when imperial power was administered from behind these very walls.

References

Kaluarachchi, S. (2004). කොළඹ පුරාණය (Ancient Colombo). Sooriya Publishers.
Manathunga, S. B. (2020). කොළඹ දිස්ත්‍රික්කය: පෞරාණික ස්ථාන හා ස්මාරක (3rd ed.). Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka. (Original work published 2005)
Welandawe, H., & Weerasinghe, J. (2016). Urban Heritage in the WRMPP. (unpublished)

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