A gesture of communal harmony

The gateway to historic Kandy town is marked by the adorable Clock Tower was built by and handed over by Hadji M. Ismaila, a griefstricken father who lost his son in the 1947 floods. Hadji Ismaila was a reputed Kandy businessman erected this monument opposite his business premises.

Leading architects who designed the Clock Tower gave it an Islamic look but the donor rejected. Though a Muslim, he was adamant that the Clock Tower should be part and partial to the cultural architecture of the Sri Dalada Maligawa. In furtherance to his Buddhist Islamic brotherhood Mr. Ismail proceeded to donate the caparisoned elephant to the Temple of the Tooth in a classic example of communal harmony.