Built in 1915, the four-story triangular Gaffoor Building stands prominently at the junction of Layden Bastian Road and Sir Baron Jayathilaka Mawatha in Pettah, overlooking the Dutch Canal that connects Beira Lake to the Colombo Port. The building was owned by N. D. H. Abdul Gaffoor, one of the leading jewelry merchants of the time.
Nestled in the heart of Colombo Fort, the Economic History Museum of Sri Lanka offers a captivating journey through over 2,500 years of the island’s trade, currency, and monetary evolution. Housed in the historic Central Point Building—a colonial-era architectural gem—the museum is not only a treasure trove of economic artifacts but also a monument to Sri Lanka’s rich heritage.
In front of the Central Bank building, where Janadhipathi Mawatha meets Chatham Street, lies the majestic Central Point Building built in 1914, now home to the Economic History Museum. This was then the tallest building in Colombo, boasting the tallest chandelier in Asia, spanning all five floors. It served as the office for the National Mutual Life Association of Australasia Limited, a global insurance company.
The building that now houses the Sri Lankan Airlines Cargo section on Sir Baron Jayathilaka Mawatha was originally constructed by the Dutch and served as the office of the Dutch Governor in 1786. It was later renovated by the British in 1850, giving it the unique character it carries today.
Walking through the historic quarter of Colombo, just past the President’s House, you will notice an abandoned and weather-beaten two-storied colonial building on the left. Built around 1850, this structure once formed part of the administrative offices of the British colonial government, functioning alongside the more prominent Republic Building immediately beside it.
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.
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 Whiteaway Building, built around 1907–1908, is a striking colonial-era structure located on Sir Baron Jayatilaka Mawatha (formerly Prince Street). After being locked up for nearly 30 years due to civil unrest, this historic site has been restored and brought back to life, reclaiming its place among the iconic landmarks of Colombo Fort.
The Lloyd’s Building in Colombo, originally known as the Freudenberg Building, is one of the finest examples of colonial-era commercial architecture in the city. Completed in 1908, this imposing five-story Georgian-style structure stands on Sir Baron Jayathilaka Mawatha (formerly Prince Street) and represents the wave of grand buildings that rose at the turn of the 20th century, when Colombo was transforming into a thriving commercial hub of the British Empire.
Walking into the Taj Samudra Hotel from Galle Face Road, visitors often notice a colonial-era building standing apart from the main hotel complex. This elegant structure is the Grand Crystal Ballroom, once known as the Colombo Club Chambers. Built in 1871, it is now a protected monument under Sri Lanka’s Department of Archaeology.
The Grand Oriental Hotel (GOH) is one of Colombo’s two oldest hotels. Built in 1837, the property first served as a Dutch military hospital before its transformation into a grand luxury hotel in 1875. Perfectly situated just outside the Colombo Harbor jetty, GOH became a landmark stopover for colonial travelers, sailors, and dignitaries passing through what was then Ceylon.
The Victoria Masonic Temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka, was constructed in 1901 during the British colonial era. The temple was designed by architect Edward Skinner in a unique Neo-Georgian style infused with elements of Eastern architecture. This building serves as the central meeting place and headquarters for Masonic lodges across Sri Lanka, housing the District Grand Lodge of Sri Lanka, the Provincial Grand Lodge of Ireland, and the Superintendency of the Grand Lodge of Scotland.
The hospital, established in 1905, was named to honor Queen Victoria and her Diamond Jubilee of 1897. The hospital was designed by Edward Skinner, a British-born architect who came to Ceylon around 1894. Known for landmarks like parts of the Galle Face Hotel, Cargills, the Victoria Masonic Temple, Wesley College, and St. Andrew’s Scots Kirk, Skinner chose the Indo-Saracenic (also known as Hindu Saracenic) style, then fashionable across the British colonies.
The Dewatagaha Jumma Masjid (Dawatagaha Jumma Masjid), located in the heart of Colombo’s Cinnamon Gardens, near Viharamaha Devi Park and the Town Hall, is today one of the city’s best-known Muslim landmarks. Beyond being a place of worship, the mosque holds layers of memory and myth, interwoven with both Muslim and Sinhalese traditions. Even today, in the busy crossroads of Colombo, visitors of all faiths stop by the shrine — some to drop a coin into the till, others to light an oil lamp.
The Old Parliament Building, standing proudly near the Galle Face Green in Colombo, is one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic colonial landmarks and a powerful reminder of the island’s political evolution. Completed in 1930 during the British colonial period, it was originally constructed to house the Legislative Council of Ceylon.
The National Museum of Colombo, a stunning 1877 Italianate palace, is Sri Lanka’s largest cultural repository. Highlights include the magnificent 9th-century Tholuwila Buddha and the jewel-encrusted throne of the last Kandyan King. From prehistoric artifacts to royal regalia, it offers an essential journey through the island’s rich heritage.
Standing tall at 356 meters (1168 feet), the Colombo Lotus Tower is the tallest structure in South Asia and one of Sri Lanka’s most talked-about landmarks. To some, it is a striking feat of design and engineering, a proud symbol of cultural heritage represented through the lotus-bud-inspired architecture. To others, it stands as a reminder of political corruption and financial mismanagement
The Dutch Hospital, now a vibrant shopping and dining precinct in front of Echelon Square, Colombo, is one of the city’s oldest buildings. As its name suggests, this historic structure dates back to the Dutch occupation of Sri Lanka, which lasted from 1656 to 1796.
Tucked away behind the Grand Oriental Hotel, St. Peter’s Church presents an unassuming stone façade that hardly resembles a place of worship. This is because it was never intended to be one. Originally constructed as the banquet hall of the Dutch Governor’s residence, the building underwent a transformation when the British took control of Colombo.
The Colombo Port Maritime Museum lies inside an old Dutch Warehouse belonging to the Dutch Fort of Colombo built in 1676. The museum displays the maritime history of the island including depictions of key historical maritime events.
