Gangaramaya (Vihara) Buddhist Temple

Gangaramaya is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Colombo,started by the famous scholar monk Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thera in the late 19th Century.After the Venerable Sri Sumangala ,his chief pupil Devundara Sri Jinaratana Nayake Thera took on the administration of the temple.It was he who laid the foundation to convert the little temple to an institute of international reckoning.The next chief incumbent was the Ven.Devundara Vacissara Thera,the teacher of the Ven.Galboda Gnanissara,who worked to make the Gangaramaya what it is today: much more than a temple in the conventional term,but a place of worship,a seat of learning and cultural centre.

Arcade Independence Square

Independence Memorial Hall(also Independence Commemoration Hall) is a national monument in Sri Lanka built for commemoration of the independence of Sri Lanka from the British rule with the restoration of full governing responsibility to a Ceylonese elected legislature on February 4,1948. It is located in Independence Square(formerly Torrington Square) in the Cinnamon Gardens,Colombo.It also houses the Independence Memorial Museum.The monument was built at the location where the formal ceremony marking the start of self-rule,with the opening of the first parliament by the HRH Prince Henry,Duke of Gloucester occurred at a special podium February 4,1948.Located at the head of the monument is the statue of the first prime minister of the country Rt.Hon.Don Stephen Senanayake "The Father of the Nation".Most of the annual National Independence Day celebrations have been held here.