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Fort (Colombo)
Encyclopedia
Fort is the central business district of Colombo
in Sri Lanka. It is the financial district of Colombo and the location of the Colombo Stock Exchange
(CSE) and the World Trade Centre of Colombo
from which the CSE operates. It is also the location of the Bank of Ceylon
headquarters. Along the foreshore of the Fort area is the Galle Face Green Promenade
, built in 1859 under the governance of Sir Henry George Ward
, the Governor of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) during British
colonial administration. Fort is also home to the General Post Office
, hotels, government departments and offices.
Known as Kolonthota, the area became notable as the site of the first landings of the Portuguese
in the early 16th century and became one of their trading posts in the island. The Portuguese developed their trading post into a fortified base and harbour to extend their control of the interior of the island. The fort constructed by the Portuguese was conquered by the Dutch
in 1656 and was used to protect their prosperous trading of resources. With Colombo gaining prominence as the center for Dutch administration in the island it was expanded to protect against both the sea and the interior of the island. The Dutch demolished part of the Portuguese-built fortification and reconstructed it to take advantage of the natural strength of the location between a lake and the sea. Due to the conflicts between the Dutch and the Sinhalese kings of the interior, the fort was a major military base as it came under siege on several occasions.
Following the British acquiring control of the Dutch-controlled areas on the coast of the island, the fort became the center of its administration, in 1815 with Kandyan Convention
Colombo became the capital of the entire island. In the year 1870, the walls of the fort were demolished as there was no longer a direct military threat and were considered an obstruction to the urban development in the area. Dutch buildings were also demolished and were replaced giving the area a sense of British colonialism.
Although the ramparts were taken down the area remained to be called the fort. Many buildings in the fort area was home to the British administration of the island and as move legislative power was given to the Ceylonese it became the site of the Legislative Council
and the State Council
. As well as the heart of the administrative capital, the fort area became the heart of the commercial capital too. Following independence much of the center of government was centered in this area. However, with the expansion of the government administration, in 1980s the government began to move government ministries and departments to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte. This began with the shifting of Parliament from the old State Council Building to a new complex in Sri Jayawardenapura. The full shift of government was never completed, as many important government institutions still remain there.
, official residence of the President of Sri Lanka
, next to the Gordon Gardens which was once open to the public is now part of the President's House. The residence traces it origins to the Dutch period when it was the residence of the Dutch Governor and later the British Governor hence it was known till 1972 as Queen's House. The Presidential Secretariat
housed in the Neo-baroque
style Old Parliament Building
. Several important government ministries are also located here, these include the Ministry of Finance
housed in the General Treasury Building
and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
housed in the Republic Building
. SLNS Parakrama
the Naval headquarters of the Sri Lanka Navy is located along Flagstaff Street. Along the Janadhipathi Mawatha (formally Queens Street) is the location of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
and the old General Post Office
. Apart from these the Central Telegraph Office
, Police Headquarters, Colombo Metropolitan Police building, Sri Lanka Port Authority building, Times building and the Cargills & Millers building are located in the fort area.
Fort is home to the head offices of many banks and business, hence it is considered the financial district of Colombo. These banks include the Bank of Ceylon
, HSBC
, State Bank of India
, Standard Chartered Bank
, Seylan Bank
, Sampath Bank, Hatton National Bank
, People's Bank
and the Commercial Bank
. The World Trade Centre of Colombo
is one of the tallest buildings in the city and is home to the Colombo Stock Exchange
and many leading corporations. The head offices of the Sri Lanka Telecom
and Ceylinco Consolidated
housed at the Ceylino House are located here. Many hotels are also located in the area, including the Grand Oriental Hotel, Colombo Hilton, Colombo Intercontinental, Galdari Meridian and the Colombo City Hotel. Notable landmarks in the fort area are the Old Colombo Lighthouse
, Colombo Lighthouse
, the Old Colombo Dutch Hospital
and the Sambodhi Chaithya.
The northern part of the fort area makes up the southern parameter of the Colombo Harbor. Located in this part is the head office of the Sri Lanka Port Authority, Sri Lanka Customs
, Bandaranayaka Quay and the Queen Elizabeth Quay.
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
in Sri Lanka. It is the financial district of Colombo and the location of the Colombo Stock Exchange
Colombo Stock Exchange
The Colombo Stock Exchange is the main stock exchange in Sri Lanka. It is one of the most modern exchanges in South Asia, providing a fully automated trading platform...
(CSE) and the World Trade Centre of Colombo
World Trade Center (Colombo)
The World Trade Centre is the tallest completed building in Sri Lanka. Standing over from the ground, it ranks as the third tallest twin tower in South Asia. WTCC runs under the management of Overseas Realty Ceylon plc...
from which the CSE operates. It is also the location of the Bank of Ceylon
Bank of Ceylon
Bank of Ceylon is a government-owned, major commercial bank in Sri Lanka. Its head office is located in iconic cylindrical building in the capital Colombo, the political and commercial capital of the islandThe bank has a network of 308 branches and 200+ extension centers covering all parts of the...
headquarters. Along the foreshore of the Fort area is the Galle Face Green Promenade
Galle Face Green
The Galle Face is a promenade which stretches for half kilometre along the coast in the heart of financial and business district of Colombo, Sri Lanka...
, built in 1859 under the governance of Sir Henry George Ward
Henry George Ward
Sir Henry George Ward GCMG was an English diplomat and politician. The son of politician and, in his retirement, writer Robert Ward and his first wife Catherine Julia Maling, and the cousin of William Ward and William George Ward, he entered the diplomatic service in 1816...
, the Governor of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) during British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
colonial administration. Fort is also home to the General Post Office
General Post Office, Colombo
The General Post Office, also known as the GPO, is the headquarters of the Sri Lanka Post. It is also the office of the Post Master General.-Building:...
, hotels, government departments and offices.
History
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
in the early 16th century and became one of their trading posts in the island. The Portuguese developed their trading post into a fortified base and harbour to extend their control of the interior of the island. The fort constructed by the Portuguese was conquered by the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in 1656 and was used to protect their prosperous trading of resources. With Colombo gaining prominence as the center for Dutch administration in the island it was expanded to protect against both the sea and the interior of the island. The Dutch demolished part of the Portuguese-built fortification and reconstructed it to take advantage of the natural strength of the location between a lake and the sea. Due to the conflicts between the Dutch and the Sinhalese kings of the interior, the fort was a major military base as it came under siege on several occasions.
Following the British acquiring control of the Dutch-controlled areas on the coast of the island, the fort became the center of its administration, in 1815 with Kandyan Convention
Kandyan Convention
The Kandyan Convention was an agreement in 1815 between the British and the Chiefs of the Kandyan Kingdom, in Sri Lanka for the deposition of rule King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha. The king who was of Telugu ancestry faced powerful opposition from the Sinhalese chieftains who sought to reduce his power...
Colombo became the capital of the entire island. In the year 1870, the walls of the fort were demolished as there was no longer a direct military threat and were considered an obstruction to the urban development in the area. Dutch buildings were also demolished and were replaced giving the area a sense of British colonialism.
Although the ramparts were taken down the area remained to be called the fort. Many buildings in the fort area was home to the British administration of the island and as move legislative power was given to the Ceylonese it became the site of the Legislative Council
Legislative Council
A Legislative Council is the name given to the legislatures, or one of the chambers of the legislature of many nations and colonies.A Member of the Legislative Council is commonly referred to as an MLC.- Unicameral legislatures :...
and the State Council
State Council
State Council may refer to:In politics:* State Council of the Soviet Union, was the chief administrative authority of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics...
. As well as the heart of the administrative capital, the fort area became the heart of the commercial capital too. Following independence much of the center of government was centered in this area. However, with the expansion of the government administration, in 1980s the government began to move government ministries and departments to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte. This began with the shifting of Parliament from the old State Council Building to a new complex in Sri Jayawardenapura. The full shift of government was never completed, as many important government institutions still remain there.
Buildings and landmarks
The fort area is a mixture of buildings from many eras of the cities past. The most notable of residences of the fort is the President's HousePresident's House, Colombo
President's House is the official residence of the President of Sri Lanka, located in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It used to be the Queen's House until Sri Lanka became a Republic in 1972.-History:...
, official residence of the President of Sri Lanka
President of Sri Lanka
The President of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the elected head of state and the head of government. The President is a dominant political figure in Sri Lanka. The office was created in 1978 but has grown so powerful there have been calls to restrict or even eliminate its power...
, next to the Gordon Gardens which was once open to the public is now part of the President's House. The residence traces it origins to the Dutch period when it was the residence of the Dutch Governor and later the British Governor hence it was known till 1972 as Queen's House. The Presidential Secretariat
Presidential Secretariat
The Presidential Secretariat is the office of the President of Sri Lanka. It provides the administrative and institutional framework for the exercise of the duties, responsibilities and powers vested in the President by the Constitution....
housed in the Neo-baroque
Neo-baroque
The Baroque Revival or Neo-baroque was an architectural style of the late 19th century. The term is used to describe architecture which displays important aspects of Baroque style, but is not of the Baroque period proper—i.e., the 17th and 18th centuries.Some examples of Neo-baroque architecture:*...
style Old Parliament Building
Old Parliament Building, Colombo
The Old Parliament Building, is the building that houses the Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka. Situated in the Colombo fort facing the sea, it is in close proximity to the President's House, Colombo. The building houses the island's legislature for 53 years until the New Parliament Complex was...
. Several important government ministries are also located here, these include the Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Finance and Planning (Sri Lanka)
The Ministry of Finance & Planning and the Treasury of Sri Lanka is a ministry of the Government of Sri Lanka responsible for developing and executing the government's public finance policy, economic policy and long term planning...
housed in the General Treasury Building
General Treasury Building
The General Treasury Building is the building that houses the Treasury of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Finance & Planning along with several of its departments. It was formally known as the Secretariat Building therefore it is still officially referred to as the The Secretariat...
and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Sri Lanka)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a ministry of the Government of Sri Lanka that conducts and manages Sri Lanka's relations with other countries...
housed in the Republic Building
Republic Building, Colombo
The Republic Building, is the building that houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in southern wing and the Cabinet Office in its northern wing. Situated in the Colombo fort in close proximity to the President's House, Colombo...
. SLNS Parakrama
SLNS Parakrama
SLNS Parakrama is a Sri Lanka Navy shore establishment sited on Flagstaff Street in Colombo, in close proximity to the Colombo Lighthouse. It functions as the naval headquarter of the Navy. In this capacity it has the offices of the Commander of the Navy, Chief of Staff, the Board of Management ...
the Naval headquarters of the Sri Lanka Navy is located along Flagstaff Street. Along the Janadhipathi Mawatha (formally Queens Street) is the location of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Central Bank of Sri Lanka
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka is the monetary authority of Sri Lanka. It was established in 1950, two years after independence. The founder governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka was John Exter, while the minister of finance at the time was J.R...
and the old General Post Office
General Post Office, Colombo
The General Post Office, also known as the GPO, is the headquarters of the Sri Lanka Post. It is also the office of the Post Master General.-Building:...
. Apart from these the Central Telegraph Office
Central Telegraph Office, Colombo
Central Telegraph Office is a building in Colombo, Sri Lanka that housed the Ceylon Telegraph Department the preciser to the Sri Lanka Telecom. Situated Colombo fort along Duke street, across from the head quarters of the Colombo Metropolitan Police; it was built in 1910 and is used by the Sri...
, Police Headquarters, Colombo Metropolitan Police building, Sri Lanka Port Authority building, Times building and the Cargills & Millers building are located in the fort area.
Fort is home to the head offices of many banks and business, hence it is considered the financial district of Colombo. These banks include the Bank of Ceylon
Bank of Ceylon
Bank of Ceylon is a government-owned, major commercial bank in Sri Lanka. Its head office is located in iconic cylindrical building in the capital Colombo, the political and commercial capital of the islandThe bank has a network of 308 branches and 200+ extension centers covering all parts of the...
, HSBC
HSBC
HSBC Holdings plc is a global banking and financial services company headquartered in Canary Wharf, London, United Kingdom. it is the world's second-largest banking and financial services group and second-largest public company according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine...
, State Bank of India
State Bank of India
The State Bank of India is the largest Indian banking and financial services company with its headquarters in Mumbai, India. It is state-owned. The bank traces its ancestry to British India, through the Imperial Bank of India, to the founding in 1806 of the Bank of Calcutta, making it the oldest...
, Standard Chartered Bank
Standard Chartered Bank
Standard Chartered PLC is a multinational financial services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom with operations in more than seventy countries...
, Seylan Bank
Seylan Bank
Seylan Bank PLC is a privately owned Commercial Bank in Sri Lanka, which was owned by the Ceylinco Consolidated. It has branches both in urban as well as rural areas of Sri Lanka. Seylan bank had 114 banking centres island wide with 3900 staff members in 2007....
, Sampath Bank, Hatton National Bank
Hatton National Bank
Hatton National Bank PLC is a leading private bank in Sri Lanka. It has overseas extension offices in Chennai and Karachi.- History :...
, People's Bank
People's Bank
People's Bank, or variations such as People's State Bank or People's National Bank Building, may refer to:in Austria*Volksbank, Central European retail bank headquartered in Austriain China...
and the Commercial Bank
Commercial Bank of Ceylon
Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC is one of the leading commercial banks in Sri Lanka with 200 branches and more than 400 ATM's.The bank has a subsidiary in Bangladesh....
. The World Trade Centre of Colombo
World Trade Center (Colombo)
The World Trade Centre is the tallest completed building in Sri Lanka. Standing over from the ground, it ranks as the third tallest twin tower in South Asia. WTCC runs under the management of Overseas Realty Ceylon plc...
is one of the tallest buildings in the city and is home to the Colombo Stock Exchange
Colombo Stock Exchange
The Colombo Stock Exchange is the main stock exchange in Sri Lanka. It is one of the most modern exchanges in South Asia, providing a fully automated trading platform...
and many leading corporations. The head offices of the Sri Lanka Telecom
Sri Lanka Telecom
Sri Lanka Telecom PLC is the premier telecommunications services provider in Sri Lanka and one of the country’s most valuable blue chip companies with an annual turnover in excess of Rs 40 billion...
and Ceylinco Consolidated
Ceylinco Consolidated
Ceylinco Consolidated is one of Sri Lanka's oldest and largest business conglomerates.The original company was founded by Mr. Hugh Weerasekere and Cyril E. S. Perera QC named "Ceylon Insurance Co." listed late 1938-39....
housed at the Ceylino House are located here. Many hotels are also located in the area, including the Grand Oriental Hotel, Colombo Hilton, Colombo Intercontinental, Galdari Meridian and the Colombo City Hotel. Notable landmarks in the fort area are the Old Colombo Lighthouse
Old Colombo Lighthouse
Old Colombo Lighthouse is a Lighthouse in Colombo ]. It is operational any more, but functions as a clock tower and is designated as a monument. It is located at the junction of Chatham Street and Janadhipathi Mawatha in Colombo fort....
, Colombo Lighthouse
Colombo Lighthouse
Colombo Lighthouse is a Lighthouse in Colombo in Sri Lanka and it is operated and maintained by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. It is located at Galbokka Point south of the Port of Colombo on the waterfront along the marine drive, in Colombo fort....
, the Old Colombo Dutch Hospital
Old Colombo Dutch Hospital
The Colombo Dutch Hospital is coincided to be the oldest building in the Colombo Fort area dating back to the Dutch colonial era. Build as a hospital by the Dutch it has been used for different purposes, last of which as a police station. It was the Colombo Fort Police Station from the early 1980's...
and the Sambodhi Chaithya.
The northern part of the fort area makes up the southern parameter of the Colombo Harbor. Located in this part is the head office of the Sri Lanka Port Authority, Sri Lanka Customs
Sri Lanka Customs
Sri Lanka Customs is a non-ministerial government department, which performs the duties of collecting customs duties and other taxes and levies in Sri Lanka. It comes under the purview of the Ministry of Finance. Head of the Sri Lanka Customs is the Director General of Customs, Mrs...
, Bandaranayaka Quay and the Queen Elizabeth Quay.
Streets
- Janadhipathi Mawatha (formally Queens Street)
- Flagstaff Street
- Chaithya Road
- Lotus Road
- York Street
- Duke Street
- Chatham Street
- Hospital Street
- Church Street
- Galle Buck Road
- Wharf Road
- Leyden Bastien Road
- Bristol Street
- Sir Baron Jayathilaka Mawatha
- York Arcade Road