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.{{cite book|title=History of the Public Works Department, Ceylon, 1796 to 1913|volume=2|editor=Bingham, Percy Moore|publisher=H. R. Cottle|date=1922|page=146}}

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.{{cite book|title=Architecture and Nationalism in Sri Lanka: The Trouser Under the Cloth|author=Pieris, Anoma|publisher=Routledge|date=2013|page=88|isbn=9780415630023}}{{cite journal|title=The Colonial Office List|author=Colonial Office|place=London|publisher=Harrison|date=1881|page=72}} 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.{{cite book|author=Choksy, Jamsheed K.|chapter=Iranians and Indians on the shores of Serendib (Sri Lanka)|editor1=Hinnells, John|editor2=Williams, Allan|title=Parsis in India and the Diaspora|publisher=Routledge|date=2007|pages=194–195}} In 1969 the Public Works Department was abolished and replaced with the Department of Buildings.{{cite web | url=https://www.buildings.gov.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12&Itemid=163&lang=en | title=Overview |publisher=Department of Buildings | access-date=15 November 2023}} 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.

Name !Tenure !Birth date !Birthplace !Death date !Death place !Notable works
class="wikitable" \|+ List of Chief Architects
James George Smither OBE	1865-1883	January–March 1833	Ireland	1910	Camberwell, England	{{plainlist \| All Saints' Church, Galle (1868) {{cite web\|url=https://www.allsaintsgalle.org/DesignAndArchitecture.php\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213053531/http://allsaintsgalle.org/DesignAndArchitecture.php\|url-status=usurped\|archive-date=February 13, 2017\|title=Design of All Saints Church, Galle Fort\|publisher=All Saints' Church, Galle\|access-date=15 November 2023}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.galleheritage.gov.lk/en/portfolio/all-saints-church/\|title=All Saints' Church\|publisher=Galle Heritage Foundation\|access-date=15 November 2023}} Old Colombo Town Hall & Edinburgh Market (1870) Grand Oriental Hotel (1873){{cite journal\|title=The Architect\|volume=5\|publisher=Gilbert Wood\|date=1871\|page=58}}{{cite news\|url=https://www.themorning.lk/grand-oriental-hotel-the-first-step-of-colombos-heritage-square/\|title=Grand Oriental Hotel: The first step of Colombo's Heritage Square\|newspaper=The Morning\|date=4 April 2021\|first=Dimthri\|last=Wijesinghe\|access-date=15 November 2023}} Colombo National Museum (1875) Colombo General Hospital Custom House Jaffna Clock Tower (1880) {{cite news\|url=http://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2018/02/25/heritage/national-museum-window-past\|title=National Museum: Window into the past\|newspaper=Sunday Observer\|first=Ryhanna\|last=Salie\|date=25 February 2018\|access-date=15 November 2023}}{{cite book\|title=The MacKenzie Moment and Imperial History: Essays in Honour of John M. MacKenzie\|editor1=Barczewski, Stephanie\|editor2=Farr, Martin\|publisher=Springer Nature\|date=2019\|page=103\|isbn=9783030244590}} }}
colspan=7 \| 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	{{plainlist \| Ceylon University College (1921-27) Old Parliament Building, Colombo (1929) General Treasury Building (1930) }}
Tom Neville Wynne-Jones CBE, CMG	1932-1953	19 November 1893	Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales	21 June 1979	Frinton-on-Sea, Essex	{{plainlist \| Independence Memorial Hall (1949) Panagoda Cantonment (1953) Survey Department building, Colombo Radio Ceylon studios (1950) Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour (1967) }}
Homi Billimoria OBE	1953-1956	23 May 1901	Colombo, Ceylon	June 1956	Colombo	{{plainlist\| Mumtaz Mahal, Colombo (1928){{cite news\|url=http://www.nation.lk/2011/08/14/eyefea2.htm \|title=Mumtaz Mahal, The Story of a House\|newspaper=The Nation\|first=Ameena\|last=Hussein\|access-date=15 November 2023}} Tintagel Colombo (1929){{cite news\|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/071202/Plus/plus0001.html\|title=Timeless Tintagel\|newspaper=Sunday Times\|author1=Sadanandan, Renuka\|author2=Hettiarachchi, Kumudini\|date=2 December 2007\|access-date=15 November 2023}}{{cite news\|url=http://www.island.lk/2007/12/02/leisure1.html\|title=Tintagel opens its doors\|newspaper=Sunday Island\|access-date=15 November 2023}} Independence Memorial Hall, Colombo (1948){{cite news\|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070204/Independencesupp/59Independence3.html\|title=59 years of Independence 1948 - 2007\|newspaper=Sunday Times\|date=4 February 2007\|first=Shantha Kumara\|last=Vithana\|access-date=15 November 2023}} Kandy Masonic Temple (1951) Young Men's Buddhist Association building, Colombo (1955){{cite web\|url=http://www.ymba-colombo.org/about-ymba\|title=About YMBA\|publisher=Young Men's Buddhist Association\|access-date=15 November 2023}} Navroz Baug (Fire Temple), Colombo }}
Justin Samarasekera{{cite journal\|author=Anjalendran, C.\|work=The Architectural Contribution of Dr. Justin Samarasekara\|title=SLA Journal\|volume=101\|number=19\|date=1997\|pages=19–23\|url=http://dl.nsf.ac.lk/bitstream/handle/1/8453/SLA-101(19)-19.pdf?sequence=2}}	1956-1962	21 May 1916	Colombo, Ceylon	3 November 2003	Colombo, Sri Lanka	{{plainlist\| 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){{cite book\|url=https://www.historyofceylontea.com/ceylon-publications/fergusons-directory/1969-70-fergusons-ceylon-directory/pdf/resources/1969-70-fergusons-ceylon-directory.pdf\|title=Fergusons Ceylon Directory 1969-1970\|publisher=Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd\|place=Colomb\|date=1970\|page=74}}	-1969					{{plainlist\| Ceylon Pavilion - World Expo, Montreal (1967){{cite book \| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fMwqlZUxRu4C&dq=%22kandavel%2C+V%22&pg=PA313 \| title=Canadian architectural periodicals index, 1940-1980 \| isbn=9782763770901 \| last1=Bergeron \| first1=Claude \| date=1986 \| publisher=Presses Université Laval }} School of Architecture building, University of Ceylon (1968){{cite web \| url=https://fliphtml5.com/ihesd/wlmf/basic \| title=Publication to commemorate University of Moratuwa’s 50 years of Excellence in Higher Education 1972 - 2022\| publisher=University of Moratuwa \|editor=de Silva, Anouk \|date=2022}}}}
colspan=7 \| In 1969 the Public Works Department was abolished and replaced with the Department of Buildings.
Panini Tennekoon{{cite news\|url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2004/07/21/fea05.html\|title=Bandaranaike Samadhi, a symbol with deep meaning - Architect Panini Tennakoon\|newspaper=The Daily News\|date=21 July 2004\|access-date=15 November 2023}}	1977-1979	5 February 1922		17 July 2007	Colombo, Sri Lanka	{{plainlist\| Colombo Library (1975){{Cite journal \|last=Brawne \|first=Michael \|date=4 January 1977 \|title=Planning the National Library Building (technical report no. 2): Sri Lanka - (mission) 12 December 1976 - 4 January 1977 \|url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000023206 \|journal=Unesdoc \|via=UNESDOC Digital Library}}{{cite book\|title=Libraries and People: Colombo Public Library : 1925-1975 : a Commemorative Volume\|author=Sri Lanka. Colombo Public Library\|editor=Corea, Ishvari\|publisher=Colombo Public Library\|date=1975\|page=112}} National Archives building (1975) Teaching Hospital complex at Colombo South General Hospital, Kalubowila Bandaranaike Samadhi, Horagolla Siyane Teachers Training College, Nittambuwa - assembly hall, female teacher trainees hostel and library Kalubowila Hospital Kollupitiya police station Wadduwa police station Peradenyia post office Ministry of Buddha Sasana Complex, Colombo Clock tower, New Town Anuradhapura Zoological Gardens, Dehiwala - aquarium, entrance feature, reptilium, restaurant, and management office complex Central Supermarket, Pettah (1979) Supreme Court Complex, Hulftsdorp (1978) Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, Borella Sepala Wimaladharma Molligoda ~1981 }}
Upali Iddawala{{cite book\|url=https://www.historyofceylontea.com/ceylon-publications/fergusons-directory/1997-1999-fergusons-ceylon-directory/pdf/resources/1997-1999-fergusons-ceylon-directory.pdf\|title=Ferguson's Sri Lanka Directory 1997-1999\|publisher=Associated newspapers of Ceylon Ltd\|date=1999\|place=Colombo\|page=101}}	1997-1999	1940	Ambepussa, Sri Lanka
Tamara Nandani Welikala Dayaratne
Menaka Mangalanantha (acting){{cite book\|title=Department of Buildings - Annual Performance Report\|url=https://www.parliament.lk/uploads/documents/paperspresented/performance-report-department-of-buildings-2017.pdf\|publisher=Ministry of Housing and Construction \|date=2017 \|page=6}}	2017 - 2019
Ranathunga Arachchige Thushari Sajeewanee Ranathunga{{cite book\|title=Department of Buildings - Annual Performance Report\|url=https://www.parliament.lk/uploads/documents/paperspresented/1663737107022638.pdf\|publisher=State Ministry of Rural Housing and Construction and Building Materials\|date=2021 \|page=5}}	2019–present

References

Category:Architecture in Sri Lanka

Category:Architecture occupations

Category:Government occupations