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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. is home to H. L. De Mel & Co. (Pvt) Ltd established in 1870.

Historical Background of the De Mel Family and the Building

The De Mel Building derives its name from one of the most prominent and affluent families in colonial Ceylon — the De Mels. Belonging to the influential Karava community, the family rose to prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries through business ventures, philanthropy, and political influence.

The most notable figure was Sir Henry Lawson De Mel (1877–1936), a successful industrialist, plantation owner, and philanthropist. He became the first Ceylonese to export local produce — such as plumbago (graphite), coconuts, and plantation crops — directly to London, breaking the monopoly long held by British middlemen. His commercial vision not only strengthened his family’s fortune but also elevated the role of local entrepreneurs in the colonial economy.

The De Mel Building

Constructed in 1921, the De Mel Building stands as one of Colombo Fort’s finest examples of neoclassical commercial architecture. Built with a basement and three floors, the premises served as the headquarters of H. L. De Mel and Co., which occupied the third floor.

The façade of the building reflects European classical influence blended with local craftsmanship. It is designed symmetrically, divided into three vertical bays by fluted pilasters that terminate in Corinthian-style capitals. The columns are decorated with floral plaster motifs.

The second floor features tall rectangular wooden windows framed within rounded arches on the side bays, while the central bay is divided by pilasters. Decorative balustrade-like panels run between the windows, breaking the rigidity of the stone surface. The third floor continues the pattern with semi-elevated columns, floral motifs, and oval plaster designs.

Inside, the building preserves elements of its early 20th-century grandeur. It houses a hydraulic elevator — rare for its time — alongside finely crafted wooden staircases and a collection of antique furniture. (Manathunga, 2005/2020).

References

Macmillan, A. (1928). Seaports of India & Ceylon: Historical and Descriptive Commercial and Industrial Facts, Figures, & Resources (1st ed.). W H & L Collingridge.
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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