Kodi Gaha – The Forgotten Flagstaff of Colombo (කොළඹ කොඩි ගහ)

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Old lighthouse and the Flagstaff at Colombo in Sri Lanka.

Once a beacon for sailors and a landmark of Colombo, the 80-foot steel Kodi Gaha (Flagstaff) lit the way to the harbor with its powerful gas lamps. Once standing tall in Colombo Fort and immortalized in song, this forgotten monument now rests on St. Sebastian Hill — a silent witness to 500 years of history.

While largely forgotten today, Kodi Gaha (Flagstaff) was once among the most famous monuments of Colombo. Its cultural significance is even reflected in the popular song “කොඩි ගහ යට මම උපන්නේ…” sung by H. R. Jothipala and M. S. Fernando. Yet, despite its past fame, few today truly understand the history of this monument or even know the location of it.

Origins under the Portuguese

The Portuguese, who first arrived in Sri Lanka in 1505, were famed for their naval prowess and exploration. After building their fort in Colombo, they relied heavily on the port’s strategic position. For safe navigation, especially at night, they needed a guiding light visible from afar to mark the harbor of Kolomthota (Colombo Port).

To solve this, they devised a tall steel column to hold a bright gas lamp, which could be seen for several miles at sea. This monument became known as the Kodi Gaha.

Structure and Design

The Flagstaff stands at an impressive 80 feet in height and weighs nearly eight tons. It was engineered in four sections to allow dismantling, using a telescopic system with pulleys. This design allowed it to contract and taper upward like a radio aerial pole. The summit was crowned with a protective steel cone, while its construction accounted for weather resistance against sun, rain, and wind.

From Guiding Light to Landmark

For centuries, the Kodi Gaha stood at the heart of the Portuguese fort in Colombo, serving as both a lighthouse and a landmark. Its gas lamps are said to have shone until about 1946, long after colonial times.

On September 3, 1988, the column was finally dismantled with the help of two cranes from the Port Authority. During this process, the original cone was stolen, though later replaced with a new one.

Present Location

Today, the Kodi Gaha is re-erected on the summit of St. Sebastian Hill in Hulftsdorp (Aluthkade). Sadly, no marker or memorial exists at its original site within Colombo Fort, leaving only memories and songs to recall its once-glorious presence.

The Kodi Gaha re-erected on the summit of St. Sebastian Hill in Hulftsdorp (Aluthkade)

References

Kaluarachchi, S. (2004). කොළඹ පුරාණය (Ancient Colombo). Sooriya Publishers.

Also See

Map of the Current Location of the Historic Kodi Gaha (Flagstaff) of Colombo

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The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites

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Travel Directions to Current Location of the Historic Kodi Gaha (Flagstaff) of Colombo

Route from Fort Railway Station to Current Location of the Historic Kodi Gaha (Flagstaff) of Colombo

Distance : 1 km
Travel time :5 minutes
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