Beginnings of the Public Library

'Sirinivasa' where the Colombo Public Library was housed for over half a century

The beginnings of what is known as the Colombo Public Library were in 1925 when the Colombo free library was opened on August 10. It was on a resolution moved in the Municipal Council by E. W. Jayawardena that the library was established.
There were two libraries at the time, namely the Colombo Library and the Pettah Library. The Colonial Secretary at the time, Sir Cecil Clementi called a meeting of subscribers to both libraries and it was agreed to hand over their books to the new library which was to be run as a department of the Municipal Council.

By that time, the Colombo Library had been in existence for over a century, having been founded in 1813. Called 'The United Service Library' it was exclusively for the use of civil and military officers of the Government stationed in Colombo and was housed in a building opposite the Queen's House (presently the President's House). A few years later the Burghers of Colombo opened a library in Pettah and called it the 'Colombo Pettah Library.' Pettah was the residential area of the Burghers who moved over from Fort when it became too busy and noisy.

The Public Library was housed in one of the oldest mansions called 'Sirinivasa,' in Edinburgh Crescent owned by Mudaliyar Sri Chandrasekera for 55 years, until a more spacious building was constructed at the present site at Vihara Maha Devi Park. The earlier building is now the official residence of the Mayor of Colombo.

The Colombo Museum Library was also one of the early libraries in the city. The founder of the Museum, Governor Sir William Gregory (1872-77) was instrumental in promoting the Museum library too and ordered many works of reference on natural history and oriental literature. These along with the library of the Royal Asiatic Society Ceylon Branch, which was housed in the Museum, formed a valuable reference library particularly for research students.

"I entertain the strongest objection to any novel being introduced to the library under any circumstances, even by gift," Governor Gregory declared excluding novels from its collection.

First public call box

GPO building where the first public call box was installed

The first public telephone call box was opened at the General Post Office (GPO) 98 years ago – on August 16, 1909. This was the beginning of the setting up of public call boxes at strategic locations, starting with the city of Colombo.

The headquarters of the Postal Department, the GPO was one of the most imposing buildings in Colombo built in the latter half of the 19th century in the English, classical, renaissance style. It was designed by British engineer cum architect Herbert Frederick Tomalin in 1891. It was handed over to the Department in 1895.

The GPO was a busy place throughout the day until a few years back when it was shifted due to security reasons being situated right in front of the President's House.

The earliest workers' strike

Although strikes are a common occurrence today, in the early part of the 20th century, strikes were rarely heard of. The earliest mention of a strike was in 1906 when the carters staged a strike protesting against a bye-law on August 13.

That was the era when bullock carts were the most popular means of commercial transport in the country other than the railway. Prior to the railway it was the only means of transport and in the early days of coffee and tea, the produce was brought to Colombo in bullock carts.

In the city of Colombo there were no other means of commercial transport other than the carts. Thus they played an important role in the country's economy.