Fast vanishing: Colombo’s centuries-old heritage
Colombo is witnessing the steady destruction of its historical buildings and monuments. Over the last few decades many of the important structures of archaeological and historical value have been either changed beyond recognition, been relocated from their original site or totally demolished thus erasing a large slice of the historical aspect of architecture and urban fabric of Colombo.
The only known example of the Portuguese ‘Padrao’ - a large stone boulder inscribed with the coat of arms of Portugal was unearthed by labourers working at the Battenberg Gate not far from the former Portuguese church of St. Lourenco in September 1898.
The discovery took place not far from an old building at the foot of the Breakwater, Port of Colombo which for many years did duty as headquarters of the Harbour Police. A ‘Padrao’ is a heraldic design of the Royal household and was often set up by the early Portuguese naval explorers and voyagers as a part of a land claim during the Portuguese Age of Discovery in the early 16th century. It was engraved and set into position mainly to discourage other colonial powers in Europe making claims to Portuguese discoveries in countries in Africa and Asia.
This five-century-old historical monument probably dating back to 1518 is believed to be the only extant example of its size and type in the world. Soon after its discovery in September 1898 it was placed in Gordon Gardens in 1900 next to the President’s House in the Fort, Colombo.
It was removed from this location a few years ago by State engineers and is now lying in a parking lot in the Colombo Port without any thought to its historic significance. It is quite likely that the heavy machinery working alongside might seriously damage this irreplaceable monument.
In 2014, the writer along with scholar and archaeologist Dr. Roland Silva (President National Trust of Sri Lanka) presented a memorandum to the Director of the National Museum raising concerns over its safety and urging the authorities to relocate it to the Museum premises– but little or nothing has been heard since then.
Colombo’s Fort, one of the best examples of military design of the 17th century was originally built by the Portuguese and later enlarged by the Dutch in 1656. It was demolished in 1870 by the British but a few important fragments still remained. The last few battlements, entry gateways and bastions are being buried in cement and concrete in the name of development.
In the 19th century, people were deeply concerned about the disappearance of well-known historical landmarks, as evident from the several articles that appeared in the press and journals.
One of the earliest known Sufic inscriptions dating to the 11 century was unearthed in Jawatte, Colombo. The gravestone commemorating the passing of a Sufi saint was misplaced but was later rediscovered and has finally been restored to the National Museum, Colombo after several years of lying in warehouses and private residences. The Portuguese ‘Padrao’ too could find a home in the Museum.
The list is endless. Until and unless the State and local bodies including the Colombo Municipal Council and the Government’s own regulatory bodies like the UDA and Archaeological Department and other state agencies act now much of the historic fabric of Colombo’s centuries-old heritage will be lost forever.