(Posted as a tribute to Late Mr. Biyanvilage Albert (BA) Perera, a now away from our minds, cement sculpture artist who was also responsible for the wonderful sculpture work at the Peradeniya University Campus adorning the halls, theatres, walls and even the decorated roadside lamp posts.)
The Chartered Bank building, a
massive brown stone pillared structure of British architectural fame, then
housed many other businesses within its multi floors. Carson Aitken Spence
& Company Ltd., Cumberbatch & Company Ltd., and Muller & Phipps
were two of them. The bank occupied the ground and basement floors.Built on the site of the religious houses of St. Augostino from Portuguese times, the building stands in a very prominent and prime location in the Fort, adjacent to the GPO and facing the Presidents House. The structure of the construction is very solid in its frame and viewed beautifully from the corners, with its arched entrances, majestic columns, and the eight carved elephant heads complete with tusks that stick out at its extremities.
These Elephant heads were carved by my friend BLH Perera’s late father Mr. B. Albert Perera.
The
source of information with my own additions is this website. The site will also
give anyone interested in the history of the Colombo Fort area other valuable
information : http://colombofort.com/fort.streets.buildings.htm
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