This research examines the architectural legacy of European religious and educational institutions in colonial Sri Lanka, focusing on preserved edifices built by the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the British from the early sixteenth to the mid-twentieth century. These institutions functioned not merely as places of worship or learning but also as instruments of imperial ideology, shaping colonial authority, promoting religious doctrine, and restructuring the local educational framework. Many of these structures remain well preserved and continue to serve active roles in contemporary Sri Lankan society, offering insight into the socio-cultural and political dynamics of the colonial period. Religious architecture significantly influenced Sri Lanka’s urban and cultural landscapes. Notable examples include the Galle Dutch Reformed Church (1755), with its characteristic Dutch Protestant design; the Wolvendaal Church in Colombo (1749), a prominent expression of Dutch ecclesiastical architecture; and St Paul’s Church in Kandy (1846), a British Anglican structure in Gothic Revival style. These buildings communicated imperial presence and authority while functioning as centers of religious life. Similarly, colonial educational institutions continue to operate as leading schools today. S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia (1851), and Trinity College, Kandy (1872), exhibit architectural inspirations drawn from British public schools and the Gothic Revival style. Royal College, Colombo (1835), reflects neoclassical ideals associated with order and progress. By analyzing these surviving structures, this study explores the interconnected relationships among architecture, colonialism, and cultural transformation in Sri Lanka.

Authors:
Kudawawe Somananda Thero, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Germany

About the Presenter(s)
Rev. Kudawawe Somananda Thero is an Assistant Researcher and PhD Fellow in the DFG RTG “Organizing Architecture” at Goethe University Frankfurt, studying European and South Asian history with a project on Sri Lanka’s British colonial past.

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