Srawasthi Mandiraya
| Srawasthi Mandiraya | |
|---|---|
| Alternative names | Sravasti Mandiraya |
| General information | |
| Town or city | Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Current tenants | Western Provincial Council |
| Completed | 1913 |
| Owner | Parliament of Sri Lanka |
The Srawasthi Mandiraya (also spelt Sravasti Mandiraya) is the primary office complex of the Western Provincial Council, located in Cinnamon Gardens, a suburb of Colombo. Built in 1913, it was formally the hostel for out station Members of Parliament who were attending Parliamentary sittings. It is located along Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha (formally Edinburgh Crescent).[1]
History
The mansion was built in 1913 in lines of a Tuscany villa, by the wealthy veterinary surgeon and philanthropist, Dr W. A. de Silva who was a member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon and the State Council of Ceylon, serving as Minister of Health from 1936 to 1942. One of the largest houses in Colombo at the time, Dr de Silva hosted many dignitaries such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Rabindranath Tagore and Lord Donoughmore. He gifted the mansion to the nation.
With Ceylon gaining independence, the house was converted by the Government of Ceylon as hostel for Members of Parliament who had to travel to Colombo from their constituencies to attend Parliamentary sittings. Following the construction of the Madiwela Housing Complex consisting of 120 housing units for Members of Parliament, the function of Srawasthi as a hostel ceased. It was thereafter taken over by the Western Provincial Council as its office complex.
See also
References
- ↑ Kirinde, Chandani (20 November 2016). "PM proposes pay hike, extra allowances for MPs". Sunday Times. Retrieved 21 November 2016.