One of the most iconic landmarks in the city of Colombo is the Colombo Town Hall. It is the center of the Colombo Municipal Council and the associated municipal offices, so while it is a beautiful structure and complex with its colonial style and vast domed central roof; it is also where the running of the city happens. It opens out to the great expanse that is Viharamahadevi Park, and dates back to just a few years before Independence. The construction of the Colombo Town Hall building was started in 1924 and completed in 1927. It has been an impressive run since then, and the beautiful British colonial architecture has truly stood the test of time. The column flanking the entrance on the porch are copied from the Classical Roman style as is the dome, the most prominent feature of this structure. There are six columns, each thirty-eight feet high in total. One interesting feature about the building is that both its width and its height are the same, about 168 feet. The presence of ballrooms, courtyards, and lobbies shows us that this was not built for administrative purposes and that it was originally used for functions and official state gatherings. Originally only the committee room and the Mayor’s office were used for administration.

Written by Vasika Udurawane for Travel Lanka Compass