Historic Republic Building in Colombo

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Walking through the historic quarter of Colombo, just past the President’s House and extending towards the centuries-old St. Peter’s Church, you encounter one of hidden colonial landmarks — the Republic Building. With its long, graceful façade and two-story Neo-Classical design, this edifice has stood since 1860, witnessing more than 160 years of the island’s political and social evolution.

The Republic Building in Colombo is one of the oldest structures in Sri Lanka’s capital. Built in 1860, it originally served as the office of the British Colonial Secretary after the demolition of an earlier Dutch building that once stood on the same site (Manathunga, 2005/2020).

Architectural Design

The building is a fine example of Neo-Classical colonial architecture. Two stories high and stretching nearly 150 meters in length, it features two prominent porticos and a continuous corridor running the full span of the façade. Large square glass windows with rain shades and orderly rows of railings give the structure its distinctive symmetry and elegance.

From Legislative Chamber to Senate

For much of its early life, the building was known as the Ceylon Legislative Council Chamber. This role lasted until 1930, when both the Legislative Council and the Secretariat offices were moved to the newly built Parliament Building facing Galle Face Green.

After the move, the Republic Building fell into decline, losing its central role and importance. By the late 1940s, demolition seemed imminent. Instead, a major renovation was undertaken in 1948, which included a complete redesign of the interior and a facelift of the exterior. The restoration was so effective that many believed it to be an entirely new construction (Foreign Ministry, n.d.).

The refurbished building became home to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Cabinet, and the Senate until the new Parliament Complex was completed at Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. During this period, it was widely known as the Senate Building.

Becoming the Republic Building

In 1972, when Sri Lanka became a republic, the building was renamed the Republic Building and the surrounding area was designated Republic Square. A few years later, in 1977, the Ministry of External Affairs and Defence was divided into two, and this site became the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (now the Ministry of Foreign Relations), alongside the Office of the Cabinet of Ministers (Foreign Ministry, n.d.).

Republic Square Today

Although Republic Square is not open to the public, the historic building and its grounds can be admired from the gated entrances at either end. The location continues to serve as the nerve center for Sri Lanka’s foreign relations, linking its colonial past with its modern role in international diplomacy.

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)
Foreign Ministry. (n.d.). Republic Building – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism. Retrieved September 10, 2025, from https://mfa.gov.lk/en/republic-building/
Welandawe, H., & Weerasinghe, J. (2016). Urban Heritage in the WRMPP. (unpublished)

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