The Borella Kanatte Cemetery is the main cemetery of Colombo. It covers 48 acres and is operated by the Colombo Municipal Council. The cemetery was established in 1866 by the British colonial rulers of that time. It has separate sections for Hindus, Buddhists, Shintos, Roman Catholics, Anglicans and non-denominational Christians.
Jawatta Liveramentu Public Cemetery lies on an old church built by the Portuguese. At one corner of the cemetery, lies the area dedicated to Commonwealth War Graves. The entrance to the cemetery features Memorial Tablets honouring over 300 men who died while serving in Sri Lanka.
Ruins of an ancient well built in the 17th century at the Portuguese church Nossa Senhora do Livramento, The Catholics believed that the water contained miraculous healing powers and was widely used by the faithful.
The origin of the name “Slave Island” is no doubt connected with the slaves who were brought to the island by the Portuguese and Dutch colonial period. Although generally believed to be a slave-holding area, the connection of slaves to this area is not so straightforward.
The Ambalama located in Kurunduwatta. Moratuwa, along with its exact location, has faded into obscurity. Yet, it holds historical significance as it was constructed by the philanthropist Jeronis de Soysa, father of Charles Henry De Soysa, some years prior to 1853. Alongside the Ambalama structure, a parcel of land adorned with diverse trees was generously donated to serve as its surrounding garden.
The IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force) Memorial constructed by the Sri Lanka Navy located in Jana Kala Kendraya premises near the parliament complex, commemorates the soldiers of the Indian Peace Keeping Force who lost their lives during Operation Pawan, which was part of the efforts to intervene in the Sri Lankan Civil War. The monument was built in 2008, one year before it decisively defeated the LTTE.
The Kelani Valley War Memorial, erected to commemorate the men from the Kelani Valley who lost their lives in the Great War, was ceremoniously opened by the Government Agent of Western Province on 22nd March 1921. The grey granite obelisk memorial was originally erected at the junction of Yatiyanthota and Rathnapura Roads in Avissawella.
The Cenotaph War Memorial at the Public Library near the Vihara Maha Devi Park in Colombo is considered the main World War Memorial in Sri Lanka. It consists of a cenotaph and a memorial wall around it. The original memorial was commissioned by the War Memorial Committee after the conclusion of World War I in 1920.
At the centre of the Padukka town roundabout lies an old street lamp on a pedestal made of wrought iron painted in silver colour. Every day thousands pass this roundabout without even glancing at this monument at this curious lamp.
George Wall was born on December 22, 1820, in North Shields, Northumberland, England, and relocated to Ceylon in 1846, drawn by its favourable climate. He assumed the role of acting manager at the Ceylon Plantation Company in Kandy. Wall continued his tenure with the company until 1854, at which point he founded his own enterprise, George Wall and Company
Built in 1757 Wolvendaal Church is located in Pettah, a neighbourhood of Colombo. It is one of the most important Dutch Colonial era buildings in Sri Lanka, and is one of the oldest Protestant churches still in use in the country.
According to folklore, this Zero Milepost lies in the centre of the island. If you draw a vertical line between Point Pedro and Dondra Head and a horizontal line between Colombo and Sangaman Kanda, it is said that this Zero Mile Post lies at the intersection. However, with the advent of digital maps, it clearly can be seen this is not so. However, the vertical line runs very close to this point.
The Jubilee Post pillar was installed in 1837 in honour of Queen Victoria who visited the island. This post is approximately 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) high and is fixed to a rectangular base, 52 cm (20 in) by 34 cm (13 in) and 26 cm (10 in) tall. The inscriptions are found on 5 sides of the post which are in English and Sinhalese. A carving of the crown has been at the top of the pillar but this part is currently not found today.
A milestone carved out of stone is found at Dam Street in Colombo 12. This stone is about 2½ feet in height. The top of the pillar is arched and number 1 is carved at the center. No other special characteristics are found on this pillar.
In the main Galle Road, the distance has been measured from the King’s House (the President’s House today). The 7th Mile Post of the Galle Road is found not on the Galle Road, but in front of St. Thomas Collage in Mount Lavinia, near its car park.
The post is made of stone in a triangular prism shape positioned upright. There are carvings on 2 sides. It reads “1 Mile from the King’s House” and the other side reads “This road made AD 1814”. This milepost stands right at the centre of the main entrance of Taj Samudra Hotel today.
The structure of Lambrick Hall embodies a fusion of Dutch architectural style and traditional Sri Lankan design. The edifice features a central hall, complemented by verandahs on all four sides. The anterior and posterior sections of the hall unveil a collection of rooms, each adorned with verandahs that open up to the surrounding environment. Architecturally, the verandah boasts two rows of columns.
St. Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade in Kotahena was established in the 18th century when the Catholicism was a proscribed religion by the Dutch and priests could not exercise their ministry in public. It was one of the churches bombed during the easter attack of 2019.
Located in the heart of Colombo in Maradana, Sri Kaileswaram Kovil in the Captains Garden is considered the oldest Sivan Kovil in Colombo. Though the kovil is situated in center of Maradana, this is also isolated from all sides with a network of railway tracks this not so easily accessible as you would think.
Gothami Vihara located on Gothami Road, Borella, Colombo was started on a 2 acre land donated in 1900 to Buddhist educator Dodanduwa Piyaratne Thero, a prominent monk who is credited with starting Sri Lanka’s first Buddhist School. Apart from providing serenity and the sense of spiritual solace in the middle of a busy town, this temple is famous for the frescos in the image house by the renowned artist George Keyt (17 April 1901 – 31 July 1993) who is considered the most distinguished modern painter in Sri Lanka.
