Royal ride of the '50s

By Ruhanie Perera

In 1956, Sir John Kotelawala, then Prime Minister of Sri Lanka bought what was at the time considered the ultimate driving machine. The Cadillac was known to be his pride and joy. But what was special about this car was that it was the first to have been registered with the letter 'SRI' on December 12, 1956. Therefore, the number - '1 SRI 1'.

It seems almost unreal that the car was bought from Tuckers Ltd., for Rs17,000 (without duty), but, of course, in 1956 that was a fortune. It came with power steering, an auto gear box and a personal hand-phone, the 'radio telephone', for Sir John to be contactable all the time, even in the car.

After many satisfying years of driving without a single accident, the Cadillac was sold. However, in April 1994, '1 SRI 1' came back home, when it was presented to the Kotelawala Defence Academy by car collector Vishva Weerasuriya, who owned it until then. 

Still in perfect condition, the Cadillac enjoys pride of place in a special exhibition stall (at the Academy), which was opened on April 2, to commemorate the 103rd birth anniversary of Sir John.

Driver Karthelis recalls that it was his friend Simon, who drove the '1 SRI 1' for Sir John. "The car was washed and polished everyday. No one was allowed to use it. Sometimes Sir John took a chosen friend in the car. But it was really Sir John's special car."... What more could a Cadillac ask for?

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