Colombo Old Town Hall Building and Museum

RATE THIS LOCATION : 1 Star

(3 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)

Old Town Hall Building now converted in to a Museum

Built in 1873, the Old Town Hall in Pettah is a Neo-Gothic architectural gem and Colombo’s first civic headquarters. Its museum features a 1906 council meeting recreation with lifelike mannequins and rare municipal artifacts. Despite its historical significance and unique cast-iron craftsmanship, this hidden landmark currently faces gradual decay.

Hidden within the busy lanes of Colombo’s Pettah Market lies the Old Town Hall building, a historic gem often overlooked amidst the chaos of hawker stalls and vendors. Built in 1873, this architectural marvel was designed by British architect J.G. Smither, who not only planned the structure but also designed its furniture to harmonize with the building’s intricate woodwork. A particularly unique feature is the chair backrests, which mirror the shape of the elegant wooden arches that adorn the windows.

Civic Importance and Architectural Style

The Old Town Hall holds the distinction of being the first civic building in Colombo, serving as the municipal headquarters from 1873 until 1924, after which operations moved to a new premises. Its architectural style is predominantly Neo-Gothic, characterized by pointed arches and cast-iron columns.

Alongside the main structure, Edinburgh Hall was built as part of the same complex. This adjoining space, which once hosted stage plays and public events, shared the same architectural features, including an open plan and detailed cast-iron work. The Edinburgh Market was also developed as an extension of the complex.

Restoration and Adaptive Reuse

After remaining unused for several decades, the building underwent restoration in 1980 during the presidency of Ranasinghe Premadasa. By 1984, the adjoining structure had been converted into a museum dedicated to the history of the Town Hall. In its present form, Edinburgh Hall has been repurposed as a marketplace and is rented out to street vendors by the Colombo Municipal Council.

Interior Exhibits and Collections

The upper floor of the Old Town Hall features a carefully recreated council meeting scene from 1906, complete with original wooden furniture and life-sized clay mannequins. The walls display antique typewriters and a large map dating to 1785, providing valuable historical context.

The museum houses a diverse collection of municipal artifacts, including an old street post with vintage name boards, sewage transport carts, an antique mobile library vehicle, boilers, fans, gas timers, light fixtures, water taps, and various mechanical tools. Among the most remarkable exhibits is a large gas-lit bulb that once illuminated a central junction, reportedly powerful enough to light the entire surrounding area and possibly unique in its kind.

Present Condition

Despite its considerable historical and architectural significance, the Old Town Hall remains relatively unknown to the general public and is seldom visited by locals. Following decades of limited maintenance, the building is once again showing signs of deterioration and gradual neglect.

Also See

Map of Colombo Old Town Hall Building and Museum

Click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map

Show Location on Google Maps

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

Zoom out the map to see more surrounding locations using the mouse scroll wheel or map controls.