Parliament Building in Colombo

Colombo or Sinhala is the capital and commercial center of Sri Lanka. Strategically located from the Bandaranayake International Airport, Colombo is a huge draw for tourists. The city is home to a population of over one million. Colombo is a fine example of diverse cultures, races and religions. Today Colombo is characterized by traits of the urban cosmopolitanism and vestiges of the past. The city is home to by multi-storied buildings, bustling local markets, flashy cars, western fashion and traditional sarong. The Pettah bazaar offers an unforgettable shopping experience. Amongst the various places of interest in Colombo, the national Museum, the Independence Memorial Hall and the parliamentary building in Kotte are worth visiting. Designed by world famous Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa, Parliament Building in Colombo is surrounded by Diyawanna Lake and parklands.

During the British rule, the Executive Council and the Legislative Councils were established in 1831. The sessions were held in a building located opposite Gordon Gardens, which today is the Presidential Secretariat. The British governor of Ceylon on 29th January, 1930 opened a building facing the ocean at Galle face. The building was to hold meetings of the Legislative Council. The structure of the parliament building was altered in 1947, when membership to the House of Representatives grew to 101. In 1967, the leaders of the political parties decided to establish a new Parliament building facing the Beira Lake. But the plan was stalled. On July 4th, 1979, the then prime minister Ranasinghe Premadasa got endorsement for the construction of a new building at Duwa, a 5 hectare (12 acre) island in the Diyawanna Oya (off Baddegana Road, Pita Kotte) about 16 kilometres (10 miles) east of Colombo. The site was a center of Portuguese struggle and leisure. On April 29th, 1982, President J.R. Jayewardene announced the opening of the new parliamentary complex.

Features of Parliament Building in Colombo:

  -   The spectacular building commands pride amidst a lake encircled by parklands.
  -   The area is bustling spot in the evenings with salesmen and food stalls.
  -   The building is not open for the public. The surrounding park area exemplifies a scene of color and vibrancy with several food and vendor stalls.