Historic Macan Markar Building in Colombo

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Built in 1910, the five-story Macan Markar Building stands between the historic Whiteaway Building and the Grand Oriental Hotel, at the corner where Sir Baron Jayathilaka Mawatha (formerly Prince Street) meets York Street.

The Macan Markar Building is one of several architectural landmarks developed by the prominent Macan Markar family, who played a key role in shaping Colombo’s early skyline. Among their notable projects were Galle Face Court 1 and Galle Face Court 2, which stood as some of the first multistory buildings in the city. While the family’s reputation was built primarily on the gem and jewelry trade, they also ventured into prime real estate, leaving behind enduring structures like this. Their jewelry store, Mymoon, housed within the building, once counted members of British nobility and royalty among its elite clientele (Welandawe & Weerasinghe, 2016).

Architectural Features

Built in 1910 (Manathunga, 2005/2020), the building rises five stories high and combines Neoclassical and Victorian styles. The ground floor features an external corridor designed to shield pedestrians from the tropical sun, a characteristic element of colonial-era commercial architecture.

Its facade is strikingly elegant, with tall fluted columns capped with ornate capitals giving the structure a sense of grandeur. Each floor is lined with square windows that punctuate the solid form of the building, while decorative moldings and cornices accentuate the upper edges, adding refinement to its classical proportions.

The Macan Markar Legacy

The Macan Markar family is best remembered as pioneers of Sri Lanka’s gem and jewelry industry. O. L. M. Macan Markar founded the business in 1860 at Galle, beginning modestly as a gem trader. His early success soon brought him to Colombo, where he relocated to the Grand Oriental Hotel premises on York Street.

By the 1870s, his firm had become one of the island’s most prestigious jewelers, attracting distinguished British and foreign visitors. Among their patrons were the Duke of Manchester and other aristocrats, while King Edward VII, during his visit to Ceylon as the Prince of Wales, personally purchased items from the firm. Members of his suite, including Lords Carrington and Suffield, also became clients. (Wright, 1907/2004)

The tradition continued into the 20th century. When the Prince and Princess of Wales visited in 1901, the firm was invited to the King’s Pavilion in Kandy to present exclusive pieces. The royal couple expressed great satisfaction with their purchases, a gesture that cemented the firm’s reputation further. Notably, the Duke of Roxburgh and other members of the royal entourage also patronized the jeweler. (Wright, 1907/2004)

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)
Wright, A. (2004). Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon: Its History, People, Commerce, Industries, and Resources (1st ed.). Asian Educational Services. (Original work published 1907)
Welandawe, H., & Weerasinghe, J. (2016). Urban Heritage in the WRMPP. (unpublished)

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