{"id":24290,"date":"2018-03-06T12:49:48","date_gmt":"2018-03-06T12:49:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=24290"},"modified":"2018-03-06T12:49:48","modified_gmt":"2018-03-06T12:49:48","slug":"memories-kollupitiya-des-kelly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/memories-kollupitiya-des-kelly\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;MEMORIES OF KOLLUPITIYA&#8221; by Des Kelly"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">&#8220;MEMORIES OF KOLLUPITIYA&#8221; by Des Kelly<\/h1>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fbiktW722pc?rel=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">Formerly known as Colpetty, also zoned as Colombo 3,\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">was an old &#8220;haunt&#8221; especially with the old Arrack tavern, directly opposite to the only competitor, as far as Milk-shakes were concerned, a Milk-bar of sorts, where they sold milk-shakes that were very much more expensive (Aleric&#8217;s shakes were half the price, I remember, but just as good).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The Arrack Tavern was another subject, altogether.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">Run by Sinhalese people,, the two main &#8220;drawcards&#8221; were Arrack &amp; Toddy. As this article is primarily for Lankan\/ Aussies, plus Lankans now residing around the World, I do not have to elaborate on the &#8220;nicities&#8221; of the above, suffice to say that they were a big part of most of us in Ceylon (at the time).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Memories of Kollupitiya, however, have to do with the magnificent residences of this Surburb, not only the big and famous Mansions, but also little &#8220;places&#8221; like Number 26, I think it was, Sea Avenue, Colpetty, where lived my Aunt Ouida, Uncle Roy &amp; 3 daughters, two of whom have passed-on, to better things. I also remember that it was here in Sea Avenue, that I first learned to ride a bicycle, which belonged to Cousin Vilma, smashed it up badly, crashing continually into a brick wall at the bottom of the Avenue.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Memories like these are everlasting. It did not matter if you were rich or poor, so here are a few more &#8220;Memories of Kollupitiya, folks, once called &#8220;Colpetty&#8221;. Hope you enjoy reading about them and hope you also enjoy the special music, I have picked or you<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12844 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/desmond-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"125\" height=\"178\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">Desmond Kelly<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u00a0Star of eLanka<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">(Editor-in-Chief)<\/span><br \/>\n========================================================<\/p>\n<h1>Mansions of Kollupitiya, Colombo in the early twentieth century<\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><strong>Unknown author, unknown date, \u2026\u2026\u2026. a composition entitled \u201cHomes of Kollupitiya\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><strong>Alfred House: <\/strong>Charles Henry de Soysa built on the land where Bagatalle was, an\u00a0 enormous mansion named \u201cAlfred House\u201d when the privilege of feastingthe future King of England, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Alfred when he visited the Island in 1870.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Arncliff<\/strong>: House of Archdeacon Boyd at Boyd Place Kollupitiya. Now a part of Bishops\u2019 College.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Big Bagatelle<\/strong>: Charles Henry de Soysa, the only son of Jenuis de Soysa Dissanayake, Mudaliyar of the Governors Gate was a public man of the first degree, in that he was one who devoted his energy and wealth on the people. He purchased numerous properties in Colombo for business investment and residential purposes retaining his roots in Moratuwa and Panadura.\u00a0 Among them were C.E. Layards\u2019 \u201cBagatalle\u201d in Kollupitiya. This house was one of the earliest residences built in Kollupitiya in 1840\u2019s. Mr. C. E. Layard (1784 -1864), son of Rev. Charles Peter Layard, the Dean of Bristol, held varied administrative posts in the Ceylon Civil Service posts in the Ceylon Civil Service over a period of 35 years. After his death in 1864, the house and property passed on to C. H. de Soysa. The land owned by Layard was almost 400 acres in extent and the garden surrounding the bungalow was quite large and extended up to the present Galle Road .<strong>Broomhill:<\/strong> Home of R. L. de Fonseka Peiris at Green Path, Kollupitiya.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-24291\" src=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Calverly-House-verandah-in-its-heyday-\u2013courtesy-of-Rohan-De-Soysa.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"431\" height=\"323\" \/><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>\u00a0<em>Calverly House verandah in its heyday \u2013courtesy of Rohan De Soysa<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><strong>Calverly:<\/strong> Home of Advocate Frederick Dornhost at Turret Road, built in 1867. Now Buddhist Ladies\u2019 College established by Mohandas de Mel.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Carlton Lodge:<\/strong> The home of Carlton Corea was constructed on the grounds of Turret House at Turret Road. It was once occupied by the Burmese Ambassador<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> in Ceylon, H. E. Boon watt. His wife was shot and killed in this house by the Ambassador over a clandestine affair she had. It is now the home of the Capri Club.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> Canela Villa: : Home of Alistair Ferguson, former proprietor of the Ceylon Observer Newspaper and founder of Ferguson Ceylon Directory. It was a spacious single storeyed house at Turret Road with extensive grounds. Later<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> known as \u201cSavitri\u201d and was the home of C. E. A. Dias a prominent<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> planter.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Clare<\/strong>: The house in Flower Road in which Earnest de Silva lived and which was named after his old college at Cambridge , is now the Russian Embassy.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> College House: Home of A.J.R. de Soysa at Thurstan Road formerly known as \u201cRegina Walauwa\u201d. Now part of the Colombo University.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> Ebor House: House of Archdeacon Mathew at Green Path.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Elscourt Manor<\/strong>: \u2018Elscourt Manor\u2019, down Turret Road, owned by Henry A Peiris, landed proprietor, was the home of the Orient Club. The club was subsequently moved to its present location at Racecourse Avenue. The Manor was also a recreation center for service personnel during WWII. Elscourt was demolished in the 1950\u2019s. Two eminent surgeons, Dr P R Anthonisz and Dr M V P Peiris, built their homes on the grounds of this property. On March 24, 1965, the leader of the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi, S J V Chelvanayakam and Dudley Senanayake, the leader of the United National Party, met, together with their party delegates, S M Rasamanickam, A Amirthalingham, Dr E M V Naganathan, V Navaratnam and<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> M Tiruchelvam (ITAK), at the house of the UNP stalwart, Dr M V P Peiris down Turret Road, Colombo. Dudley Senanayake, the leader of the party, along with J R Jayewardene, V A Sugathadasa and Esmond Wickremasinhe, represented the United National Party. In 1929 Elscourt, a magnificent building on turret Road opposite the Victoria Park, one time The Colombo Club, was gifted to the Bishops College, Colombo, a leading girls school, by Mrs. Charles Peiris (nee Maud de Mel).By 1936 there were 153 pupils and the buildings needed expansion. Elscourt was the site of World Fair I organized in 1937 by the past pupils of Bishop\u2019s College. Elscourt was sold and the fundsraised from the sale of Elscourt were now available for the purchasein June 1937 of Arncliffe, a large house adjoining Bishop\u2019s College.In August 1937 Arncliffe was renamed Peiris House in tribute to the generous benefactress, Mrs. Maud Peiris. And Peiris House was declared open by the Governor Sir Andrew Caldecott.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Fairlight<\/strong>: The single storeyed home of lawyer Felix de Silva at Turret Road , Kollupitiya.<strong>Fincastle<\/strong>: House of Henry A Peiris Landed Proprietor, at Turret Road. A palatial building, original owned by Jeronis Pieris. Fincastle was later theoffice of the Lady Lochore fund. Residence and Stores of H. Bastian Fernando Plumbgo Merchant at Green Path, Kollupitiya. Later occupied by the Italian Chancery.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Firdousi:<\/strong> Home of Dr. Rustemjee at Turret Road . During the Second world War the Science Laboratory of Royal College was here. Later this house was<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> brought by Mr. Eric Soysa.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Framjee House:<\/strong> This old house at Station Road Kollupitiya is now part of Methodist College<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Gitanjali:<\/strong> Home of Deva Surasena, son of James Pieris built on \u201cRippleworth Grounds\u201d in 1948 at Alwis Place.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Glen Abar;<\/strong> The house occupied by A. J. R. de Soysa before \u201cLakshmigiri\u201d wasbuilt, is now the area covered by Glenaber Place , Thurstan Road .<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Icicle Hall<\/strong>: Once the residence of the Chief Justice. Later UNP Headquarters \u201cSri Kotha\u201d at Galle Road Kollupitiya.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Isabel Court:<\/strong> House of N. D. P. Silva, plumbago Merchant. Earlier known as \u201cWiesbaden\u201d on Galle Road, Kollupitiya Junction. The oldest Chinese<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> Restaurant in Kollupitiya. \u201cLotus\u201d operated from here for a long time. The building is now demolished.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><strong>Kew Lodge<\/strong>: House of Archdeacon Mathew at Green Path.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Lakshmi Giri:<\/strong> The elaborately ornamented bungalow of A. J. R. de Soysa at Thurstan Road .<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Muirburn<\/strong>: Naina-Marikar was resident at\u00a0No 43, New Moor Street, Colombo, and in 1900 he purchased a palatial bungalow, that contained a large garden,<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> at Turret Road called \u201cMuirburn\u201d. Within this compound he built another shop called Victoria Drapery Stores. He also worked as an indenting agent and imported large stocks of goods from Europe to be disposed of wholesale to other big merchants in Ceylon. He sold on credit and his stock in trade was valued at several hundreds of<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> thousand Rupees. Naina-Marikar made a donation towards the construction of the Wesley College building at baseline Road, Colombo<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Mumtaz Mahal:<\/strong> Previous 0fficial residence of the Speaker of Parliament at Galle Road Kolupitiya. Was owned by M A M Hussein.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Newlands:<\/strong> Home of Arthur Alwis over hundred years ago. Alwis Place was named after Arthur Alwis, a well known resident of Kollupitiya. Newlands extended from Turret Road to Powatte area. Arthur Alwis was a member for the Kollupitiya Ward in the Colombo Muncipal Council.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Notherton<\/strong>: The home of Charles Mathew Fernando eminent lawyer, who led the prosecution in the famous Attygalle murder case. This house was<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> guarded during that time. The house was situated opposite the Fountain House Turret Road\/Union Place corner. Queens Road: The house bordering Queens Road on Thurstan Road was owned by T.H.A. de Soysa and named \u201d Regina\u201d (now College House\u201d). Thename<strong> Regina<\/strong> (meaning Queen) and the British happily named the<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> adjoining road as Queens Road.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Rheinland:<\/strong> Edwin Lionel Frederick de Soysa\u2019s House and Stables at Kollupitiya built in 1905. Earlier occupied by a German businessman.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Rippleworth<\/strong>: Homes of Sir James Peiris, the legislator and pioneer social reformist, built in 1901 at Turret Road . It was the scene of many<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> conferences when the reform movement was at its height during Colonial days. After the death of Sir James in 1930,his son Leonard lived in<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> this house till death. Devar Suriya Sena the younger son lived in a separate house adjoining .<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Roshanara<\/strong>: Home of N. K. Chosky leading Civil Lawyer of the time at Turret Road .<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Rotunda<\/strong>: Home of Canon Dias Bandaranaike of Rotunda Gardens, Kollupitiya.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Sigiriya<\/strong>: The home of Dr.Solomon Fernando a highly respected medical<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> practitioner, at Bagatelle Road , Kollupitiya.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Sravasti:<\/strong> The Colombo residence of W. A. de Silva, one of the most elegant and largest residences of Ceylon. Wilmot Arthur de Silva was a widely<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> known man of scholarly pursuits and philanthropic inclination. Sravasti, the mansion built on the lines of a Tuscany Villa and<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> completed in 1913, was Dr. Silva\u2019s gift to posterity. A freedom fighter of the day, it was here that he entertained such men of<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> history as Shri Jawaharlal Nehru, Rabindranath Tagore and Lord Donougmore. Today it serves as a hostel for Members of Parliament. It<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> is situated at Edinburgh Crescent .<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Srimethipaya<\/strong>: Sir Earnest de Silva\u2019s Colombo Residence. The quiet philanthropist built this house around 1910 at Flower Road and the road is now<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> happily named Sir Earnest. The house is now the office of the Prime Minister.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><strong>St. Kevins: <\/strong>Home of Mudliyar S.R. de Fonseka, a highly respected government<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> official at Kollupitiya.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><strong>St. Leonards:<\/strong>Sir James Pieris owned this house which was previously occupied by District Judge G. S. Schneider at Flower Road .<br \/>\n<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>St Thomas Prep School<\/strong>: The junior wing of St. Thomas\u2019 College, Mt Lavinia is located here and it is on this area that the offices of the Voice of America oncestood. Galle Mahal: the oldest house on Galle Road, built sometime in the 1850\u2019s, is situated next door. The school was founded on May 17, 1938, by the Rev William Thomas Keble, an eminent educationist, scholar, author, and a great lover of Ceylon. The school is an Anglican private fee levying educational institution and one of the foremost in the island. It is located in pleasant healthy surroundings at a former spacious seaside residence named \u2018Fortrose\u2019, opposite the Bishops House. Fortrose was once occupied by George Vanderspaar. Many elegant coconut trees and a sprawling Kottan (Almond) tree line its front facing the Galle Road.<br \/>\n<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Sudasana:<\/strong> At the intersection with General\u2019 Lake Road which bisected Turret Road was the house of Sir Gerard Wijekoon. First President of the Senate.<br \/>\n<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>The Firs:<\/strong> St, Bridgets Convent Girls School was first initiated by Reverend Dr. T. A. Melizan (the then Archbishop of Colombo), within a rented house down Turret Road known as \u2018The Firs\u2019. This was the beginning of the majestic school that stands today, bringing back happy memories to all those who mingled amidst its walls. Bought over from the late Mr. Harry Pieris the \u2018spacious\u2019 and \u2018sprawling\u2019 bungalow was considered the ideal home. \u2018The Firs\u2019 had a long verandah, which served as the school hall and each of the larger room was converted as classroom. In a room on the east was situated the Chapel, which is said to have had a resplendent altar, illuminated by candles.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><strong>Visakha Vidyalaya,<\/strong> one of the premier Buddhist girls school in Colombo, was started under the name of \u201cBuddhist Girls\u2019 College\u201d in a house called \u201cThe Firs\u201d at Turret Road, Colombo, Sri Lanka. It was moved to its present premises at\u00a0Vajira Road, Bambalapitiya (Colombo 4) on the 21st of November 1927 and named \u201cVisakha Vidyalaya\u201d by Lady Herbert Stanley, the wife of the then Governor of Ceylon. From humblebeginnings, Visakha Vidyalaya has risen to the position of the most sought after school for girls in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, it is the only girls\u2019 school identified amongst the first National Schools in the Island. Home of Henry A Pieris gifted to St. Bridgets Convent.<br \/>\n<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>The Synagogue: <\/strong>The house occupied for many years by Peter de Saram, a Retired Korale Mudaliyar at Galle Road (Sea-Side) Kollupitiya.<br \/>\n<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>The Tent: <\/strong>Owned by Henry A. Pieris. A single storey house with a large garden at Green Path. Now the hostel of the Girl\u2019s Friendly Society.<br \/>\n<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Turret House<\/strong>: Built by the well known Company Director, F. W. Bois at Turret Road . Later, the town residence of Col. T. G. Jayawardene. His sons-in-law<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> Carlton Corea and Fairlie Wijemanne built their houses on the grounds of Turret House. During the second World War, \u2018Turret House\u2019 on Turret Road was the<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> home of the Upper School of Royal College, Colombo, and Carlton Lodge (the Capri Club) housed the Lower School. The office of the Principal and the administration section were housed at Sudassana, the home of Sir Gerard Wijekoon, which was located on the opposite side of Turret Road. The science laboratory was located at Firdousi, also on the same (left) side of the street facing East. School assembly was held in the open air on the spacious grounds of Turret House.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> Vaijayantha: Home of E. W. Jayawardene Q. C. Later occupied by the Chinese Ambassador. During the second world War was the headquarters of Radio<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> SEAC. This house was situated on Park Road leading from Turret Road towards Slave Island .<br \/>\n<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Villa Istanbul<\/strong> Residence of Macan Markar on Galle Road , Kollupittiya.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Villa Venezia:<\/strong> Sir Marcus Fernando built this house like a Venetian \u2018palazze\u2019 in Queens Road and resided for sometime. Now demolished.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Vimal Villa:<\/strong> Residence of D. D. Pedris at Alfred Place , a popular place businessman and keen Buddhist.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Kollupitiya Mini Zoo<\/strong> \u2013 A mini zoo had been in operation at \u201cIXORA\u201d Green Path, now the residence of the Wijewardenes. This was earlier<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> owned by Hagen Bech who was the originator of the Dehiwela Zoo. The animals were later transferred to Dehiwela.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> <strong>Residence of the Indian High Commissioner<\/strong> \u2013 A splendid mansion located at Thurstan Road which had a mini zoo (deer park ) within its<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> compounds. The place was previously occupied by the Manager, Imperial Bank of India and owned by T H A de Soysa. The rear garden extended<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"> all the way up to Bagatelle Road on the west.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><strong>Kollupitiya Stables:<\/strong> Clifford Road housed the stables and horse\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">riding school. Many prominent personalities, including the first post\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">independent Prime Minister, the Hon D S Senanayake, were trained by\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">Dick Wijesinghe, the famous trainer and jockey who lived down Hudson\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">Road , at these stables. The first floor of St Michaels building was\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">also occupied by several jockeys of that era.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">Mehdi Hussein, the well known horse trainer, who trained some of the\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">best horses in Ceylon, viz Kunjilata, Mohan Tara, &amp; Cotton Hall, also\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">had his stables at the far end of Alwis Place.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><strong>US Chancery \u2013<\/strong> The old US Embassy building at Galle Face, occupied by\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">the offices of USAID now, was the residence of D R Wijewardene, the\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">founder of Lake House newspapers. It was then called \u2018Rickman House\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">After him, it was remodeled and renamed to \u2018Sri Ramya\u2019. The famous\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">Indian poet, Rabindranath Tagore, stayed in this house when he brought\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">a troupe of Bengali dancers to Ceylon in the 1920\u2019s.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><strong>Mati Park<\/strong> \u2013 The present day Stanley Jansz Stadium, by the Beira Lake,\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">was then called \u2018 Mati Park \u2018 meaning \u2018Clay Park\u2019, on account of its\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">clay soil. It was then owned by a hairy man called \u2018Mail Bass\u2019 meaning\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u2018Hairy\u2019. This man used to cut grass and sell it for a living. The\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">grounds were also used for horse riding.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><strong>Bird Hunter<\/strong> \u2013 In the vicinity of Mati Park was the Beira Lake. On the\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">island in the middle of this lake a man named Dias aka \u2018Masappu Aiya\u2019,\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">who was an avid bird hunter lived there.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;MEMORIES OF KOLLUPITIYA&#8221; by Des Kelly Formerly known as Colpetty, also zoned as Colombo 3,\u00a0was an old &#8220;haunt&#8221; especially with the old Arrack tavern, directly opposite to the only competitor, as far as Milk-shakes were concerned, a Milk-bar of sorts, where they sold milk-shakes that were very much more expensive (Aleric&#8217;s shakes were half the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":24293,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"aside","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,1104],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-24290","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-aside","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-articles","8":"category-desmond-kelly","9":"post_format-post-format-aside"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.7.1 (Yoast SEO v25.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>&quot;MEMORIES OF KOLLUPITIYA&quot; 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