Heritage

Historic Lankem Plantation House in Colombo (කොළඹ ඓතිහාසික ලංකෙම් වතු ගොඩනැගිල්ල)

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Historic Lankem Plantation House in Colombo

One of the most eye-catching colonial buildings in Colombo Fort is the former headquarters of Lankem Tea and Rubber Plantations. Built just before the iconic Cargills building, this striking structure dates to around 1860 and shares a surprising resemblance in design to Cargills. With its terracotta and white brick finish, the building portrays neoclassical architecture.

Lying on the intersection of York Arcade and Sir Baron Jayathilaka Mawatha, over the years, the building was known by several names, including Fortland (Fort Land) and Colombo House. It is believed that the structure first served as the headquarters of another major plantation company before the Lankem agrochemical company was founded by Royal Dutch Shell in 1964.

Construction and Architectural Design

The history of its construction is somewhat debated. Welandawe (2016) places the building’s origins around 1860, while Manathunga (2005/2020) notes a construction date as 1901. Despite the discrepancy, both accounts agree on the building’s colonial significance.

The three-story building is designed with wooden floors and staircases, combining durability with elegance. A corridor lined with arches, square windows, and decorative leaf patterns in plaster enhances its façade. Architect Edward Skinner is credited with its design, which blends classic Victorian and Byzantine elements, resulting in a unique colonial landmark. (Manathuga, 2005/2020)

References

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 (unpublished)

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Route from Colombo Fort to Historic Lankem Plantation House
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