Chief architect (Sri Lanka)

The Chief Architect was a position created in 1865 by Governor Hercules Robinson and the Executive Council of Ceylon to design and oversee the construction of public buildings across Ceylon.

Previously the Public Works Department, which was established in 1849 was managed by British engineers.

The chief architect worked within the Public Works Department and the first chief architect was James George Smither. The position was retained following the country's independence in 1948 however it was not until the appointment of Homi Billimoria in 1953, that a Ceylonese architect assumed the role. In 1969 the Public Works Department was abolished and replaced with the Department of Buildings. The department was established as the sole authority and consultancy institution in the construction of government buildings. In 1977 the position of Chief Architect was re-instated, with the appointment of Panini Tennekoon. He was the last recognised Chief Architect, following which the position reverted to Director - Architecture within the department, reporting to the Director General of Buildings.

List of Chief Architects
Name Tenure Birth date Birthplace Death date Death place Notable works
James George Smither OBE 1865-1883 January–March 1833 Ireland 1910 Camberwell, England
There are no records of a Chief Architect being appointed until 1925
Austin Woodeson OBE 1925 - 1932 3 May 1873 Reading, Berkshire, England 24 November 1935 Bournemouth, England
Tom Neville Wynne-Jones CBE, CMG 1932-1953 19 November 1893 Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales 21 June 1979 Frinton-on-Sea, Essex
Homi Billimoria OBE 1953-1956 23 May 1901 Colombo, Ceylon June 1956 Colombo
Justin Samarasekera 1956-1962 21 May 1916 Colombo, Ceylon 3 November 2003 Colombo, Sri Lanka
  • Independence Memorial Hall, Colombo (1948)
  • Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, Colombo (1959)
  • Institute of Practical Technology, Katubedde, Moratuwa (1959)
  • Kalutara Chaitya, Kalutara (1965)
  • Indian Pavilion and Ceylon Paper Corporation Pavilion, International Industrial Exhibition, Colombo (1965)
  • Atchchuveli Industrial Estate, Jaffna (1970)
  • SLFP Party Headquarters, Colombo (1970)
  • University of Kelaniya Library, Kelaniya (1973)
  • Kollupitiya Market, Colombo (1976)
  • Yala Safari (1976)
  • Wornel's Reef Hotel, Beruwala (1974)
  • University of Ceylon Physics and Chemistry buildings (1979)
  • Co-operative Wholesale Establishment, Colombo (1981)
  • Sripada National College of Education, Kotagala (1982-89)
Velayuthampillai Kandavel (acting) -1969
  • Ceylon Pavilion - World Expo, Montreal (1967)
  • School of Architecture building, University of Ceylon (1968)
In 1969 the Public Works Department was abolished and replaced with the Department of Buildings.
Panini Tennekoon 1977-1979 5 February 1922 17 July 2007 Colombo, Sri Lanka
Upali Iddawala 1997-1999 1940 Ambepussa, Sri Lanka
Tamara Nandani Welikala Dayaratne
Menaka Mangalanantha (acting) 2017 - 2019
Ranathunga Arachchige Thushari Sajeewanee Ranathunga 2019–present
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