Independence Memorial Hall

Independence Memorial Hall
Independence Commemoration Hall
Alternative names	Independence Commemoration Hall
General information
Location	Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo
Coordinates
Construction started	4 February 1949
Completed	1953
Owner	Ministry of Cultural Affairs
Technical details
Floor area	10,000 sq. ft
Design and construction
Architect	Tom Neville Wynne-Jones
Other designers	Shirley D’Alwis

Independence Memorial Hall (also Independence Commemoration Hall) is a national monument in Sri Lanka built for commemoration of the independence of Sri Lanka from the British rule with the establishment of Dominion of Ceylon on February 4, 1948. It is located at the Independence Square (formally Torrington Square) in the Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo. It also houses the Independence Memorial Museum.

The monument was built at the location where the formal ceremony marking the start of self-rule, with the opening of the first parliament by the HRH Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester occurred at a special podium February 4, 1948.

Located at the head of the monument is the statue of the first prime minister of the country Rt. Hon. Don Stephen Senanayake "The Father of the Nation". Most of the annual National Independence Day celebrations have been held here. Apart from a monument it served as the ceremonial assembly hall for the Senate of Ceylon and the House of Representatives of Ceylon until the parliament was moved to the new parliament complex. Currently it is the venue for religious events and annual national day celebrations.

Design

The formal ceremony marking the start of self-rule, with the opening of the first parliament at the special podium at the present Independence Square, Colombo.

It was designed by Tom Neville Wynne-Jones CBE, based on the Magul Maduwa (Celebration Hall), the Royal audience hall of the Kingdom of Kandy the last native kingdom of the island, where on March 5, 1815 the Kandyan Convention was signed between the British and the Kandyian Chieftains (Radalas) ending the Kingdom of Kandy.

In popular culture

The Memorial Hall was featured as a pitstop on both 4th season of The Amazing Race Asia, and 1st season of The Amazing Race Australia.

See also

• Kandyan Convention
• Sri Lankan independence movement
• Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour

External links

• Independence Hall, Lonely Planet
• Independence Memorial Hall, asiaexplorers.com