Victoria Memorial Eye Hospital in Colombo

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Colombo, Sri Lanka, is a city rich with colonial history, and among its most captivating landmarks is the Victoria Memorial Eye Hospital. The Victoria Memorial Hospital is located at De Soysa Circus (formerly known as Lipton Circus), close to the colonial monuments of the George Wall Memorial Fountain and the Town Hall building of Colombo.

A Royal Commemoration

The hospital, established in 1905, was named to honor Queen Victoria and her Diamond Jubilee of 1897. The idea for an eye hospital as a memorial had been discussed for years, but it was chiefly due to the efforts of Lady Ridgeway, wife of the then British Governor, that the concept materialized.

Together with Dr. (later Sir Allan) Perry and Dr. W. H. de Silva, Lady Ridgeway issued a joint circular highlighting the urgent need for a dedicated ophthalmic institution beyond the existing outpatient infirmary. In a letter to the press in February 1902, Lady Ridgeway stated that no better form of memorial for Queen Victoria could be imagined.

The proposal gained immediate support. A public meeting in March 1902, presided over by Governor Sir West Ridgeway, saw widespread participation from Colombo’s leading citizens. The government pledged to double all public contributions, instantly raising the total to over Rs. 60,000, eventually reaching Rs. 100,000.

Prominent donations included:

Mohandiram N. S. Fernando, who began with Rs. 5,000 and later increased it to Rs. 7,500
Charles Peiris, who contributed Rs. 7,500 for a children’s ward in memory of his daughter Elsie
Mrs. James Peiris, who collected over Rs. 5,000 herself
Contributions from H. J. Peiris, the Municipal Council of Colombo, Tyagaraja, and the family of D. S. Cargill

Lady Ridgeway laid the foundation stone on August 6, 1903. Two years later, on August 7, 1905, the hospital was officially opened by Lady Ashmore on behalf of Lady Blake.

An Architectural Masterpiece: The Indo-Saracenic Jewel

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.

Key features included:

A striking red-brick façade, used in famous 19th-century London hospitals such as Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College Hospital.
Domes reminiscent of Mughal architecture
Polychrome brick arches over windows and doors
A design partly inspired by a public building in Kuala Lumpur
A large structure with a frontage of 200 ft. (61 m), a depth of 97 ft. (29.5 m), and 14 ft.-high (4.3 m) wards

Inside, the entrance hall displayed a large portrait of Queen Victoria (gifted by Hon. Alexander Yorke) and a marble bust, alongside a portrait of Lady Ridgeway. The interiors had enameled walls, patterned glass-and-enamel tiled floors, and modern facilities for the time: electric lighting, sterilizers, boilers, and specially designed operating rooms for cleanliness. Accommodation included wards for 45 patients, six luxury private rooms, men’s and women’s wards, and the children’s Elsie Peiris Ward.

Tragically, Skinner died in 1910 at only 41 years old, following a bicycle accident and subsequent depression. His designs, especially the Victoria Memorial Eye and Ear Hospital, remain a testament to his architectural brilliance.

From Ophthalmic Care to Accident Services

At its opening in 1905, the hospital was hailed as one of the best in the colonies, with facilities rivaling those in England. It also functioned as a teaching hospital for medical students specializing in ophthalmology. At the time, Ceylon had around 8,000 blind individuals, and the hospital was expected to play a transformative role in reducing blindness.

By the mid-20th century, its role shifted. In 1962, ophthalmology services were transferred to the newly built National Eye Hospital of Colombo, a modern brutalist-style building nearby.

Still, the Victoria Memorial Hospital continued to serve the public. In 1967, Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake inaugurated the Accident Service within the hospital. By the early 1970s, it had become Colombo’s primary emergency care center.

Need for Preservation

Today, the Victoria Memorial Eye and Ear Hospital remains part of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka, housing the Burns Unit, surgical theaters, and neurosurgical services.

Over a century old, it is not only a hospital but also a symbol of colonial-era architecture and public health history. With its striking design that still glows in the sunlight, there is a growing call for it to be officially listed and preserved as a heritage site, ensuring that future generations appreciate both its beauty and its legacy.

Victoria Memorial Eye Hospital in Colombo

References

Bingham, P. M. (1923). History of the Public Works Department, Ceylon, 1796 to 1913: Vol. III–III. H. R. Cottle, Government Printer of Ceylon.
Skeen, G. J. A. (1906). A Guide to Colombo : With Maps: A Handbook of Information, Useful Alike to the Visitor and the Resident (6th ed.). A. M. and J. Ferguson, “Observer” Office. (Original work published 1892)
Amerasekera, N. D. (2021, October 24). Some wistful memories of the Victoria Memorial Eye and Ear Hospital. The Island Online. Retrieved August 22, 2025, from https://island.lk/some-wistful-memories-of-the-victoria-memorial-eye-and-ear-hospital
Wright, A. (2004). Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon: Its History, People, Commerce, Industries, and Resources (1st ed.). Asian Educational Services. (Original work published 1907)

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