Historic Gaffoor Building in Colombo

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Gaffoor Building in early 1900s — Gaffoor Building in in early 1900s and 2020s

Gaffoor Building in in early 1900s and 2020s

Built in 1915, the four-story triangular Gaffoor Building stands prominently at the junction of Layden Bastian Road and Sir Baron Jayathilaka Mawatha in Pettah, overlooking the Dutch Canal that connects Beira Lake to the Colombo Port. The building was owned by N. D. H. Abdul Gaffoor, one of the leading jewelry merchants of the time.

The Gaffoor Building was completed in 1915 by N.D.H. Abdul Caffoor, a pioneering gem merchant whose influence extended from Colombo to the courts of Europe. Born in 1875 into a respected Moor family in Grandpass, Colombo, Caffoor began his career with a shop at the Bristol Hotel Building on York Street. His ambition and success, however, soon led him to commission what became one of Colombo’s finest commercial landmarks (Walpola, 2025; Abdul Ghaffoor Trust, 2022).

Situated at the corner of Sir Baron Jayathilaka Mawatha and Leyden Bastian Street, the building occupied a strategic location overlooking the Dutch Canal and lying adjacent to the busy Colombo Harbour. This meant that disembarking passengers were immediately greeted by Caffoor’s dazzling gem and jewelry displays, reinforcing his reputation as a world-class merchant (Walpola, 2025).

Architecture and Design

Constructed in the British colonial style, the Gaffoor Building showcased neoclassical elements such as arched colonnades, a central dome, and symmetrical facades. Its wedge-shaped footprint and three-story elevation made it a standout in early 20th-century Colombo. Built on reclaimed land from Beira Lake—a site many contractors avoided due to water seepage—it was successfully completed by Walker Sons & Co., who took on the challenge (Walpola, 2025).

Over time, the building underwent significant alterations, though the dates of these changes remain uncertain. The building initially had only 3 floors, and an additional floor has been added, and the decorative pillar domes that once crowned the roof disappeared. The central tower also lost much of its original character, with elegant arches and circular windows replaced by square frames, and its ornate dome reduced to a plain, flat dome.

Decline and Restoration

Like much of Pettah, the Gaffoor Building fell into disrepair during the three decades of civil conflict with the LTTE terrorists. After their defeat, in 2014, however, the Urban Development Authority (UDA) acquired the property with plans to transform it into a 63-room city hotel. Restoration work has since been carried out under the supervision of the UDA, with the Sri Lanka Navy and the University of Moratuwa playing central roles in reviving this historic landmark.

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)
Wright, A. (2004). Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon: Its History, People, Commerce, Industries, and Resources (1st ed.). Asian Educational Services. (Original work published 1907)
Walpola, T. (2025, February 9). Polished to perfection. The Island Online. Retrieved September 12, 2025, from https://island.lk/polished-to-perfection/
abdul ghaffoor trust. (2022, May 22). Abdul Ghaffoor Trust Private Family Trust Sri Lanka Official Site. Abdul Ghaffoor Trust. Retrieved September 12, 2025, from https://abdulghaffoortrust.com/abdul-caffoor

Also See

Map of Historic Gaffoor Building

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Travelling Directions to Historic Gaffoor Building

Route from Colombo Fort Railway Station to Historic Gaffoor Building
Distance: 600 meters Travel time: 10 minutes (walking) Driving Directions: see on Googl e Map

Historic Gaffoor Building in Colombo (කොළඹ ගෆූර් ගොඩනැගිල්ල)

Architecture and Design

Decline and Restoration

References

Also See

Map of Historic Gaffoor Building

Travelling Directions to Historic Gaffoor Building

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Architecture and Design

Decline and Restoration

References

Also See

Map of Historic Gaffoor Building

Travelling Directions to Historic Gaffoor Building

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