If you have ever undertaken a Colombo city tour, your might have visited the Independence Memorial Hall in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This iconic tourist attraction is part of most Colombo city tours.
Independence memorial hall also known as the Independence commemoration hall is an iconic public building in Sri Lanka built for the celebration of the independence of Sri Lanka from English rule with the reclamation of full overseeing responsibility to a Ceylonese-chosen lawmaking body on 4 February 1948. It is situated in Independence Square (previously Torrington Square) in the Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo. It additionally houses the Independence Memorial Museum.
The building was built where the formal function denoting the beginning of self-rule, with the kickoff of the main parliament by Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester happened at a special podium on 4 February 1948.
Situated at the top of the landmark building is the sculpture of the main state head of the nation Rt. Hon. Don Stephen Senanayake “The Dad of the Country”. Most of the yearly independence day festivities have been held here. Aside from a landmark it filled in as the stylized gathering lobby for the Senate of Ceylon and the Place of Delegates of Ceylon until the parliament was moved to the new parliament complex. At present it is the place for religious events and yearly national day festivities.
Design
The structure was planned by a gathering of eight outstanding designers led by Tom Neville Wynne-Jones CBE, and included F. H. Billimoria, Shirley de Alwis, Oliver Weerasinghe, Homi Billimoria, Justin Samarasekera and M. B. Morina. The plan of the structure depends on the Magul Maduwa (Celebration Hall), the Royal audience hall of the Kandyan of Kandy the last Kingdom of Sri Lanka, where on 5 March 1815 the Kandyan convention was endorsed between the English and the Kandyian Chieftains (Radalas) finishing the Kingdom of Kandy.
Important Events
Independence day celebration
Oath ceremony of President Maithripala Sirisena
Memorial service of President Ranasinghe Premadasa
Memorial service of Gamini Dissanayake
Memorial service of Lakshman Kadirgamar
Memorial service of W. D. Amaradeva
Memorial service of Vijaya Kumaratunga
Memorial service of Lester James Peries
Memorial service of Ven. Gangodawila Soma Thero