Grand Oriental Hotel

Once a mansion of a Dutch Governor and military barracks, the plans of a new hotel came into being in 1870 through the works of architect R. Smith, under the patronage of then governor Robert Wilmot Horton. And on the 5th of November 1875, the hotel was christened the ‘Grand Oriental Hotel’.

The hotel gave opportunity for ardent fans of the British Royals and other dignitaries to view their passing of the harbour. The rooftop offered the perfect place for a sun bath and the garden a place to chat and rest while listening to the well known band – Blue Star. Famous guests at the time that came by the GOH include HRM Queen Elizabeth and the Duke and Duchess of Kent.

In 1954, the property of Grand Oriental Hotel, Colombo, was handed over to the Bank of Ceylon following negotiations for a price of Rs. 6, 250,000. A fully team, lead by Mr. Ediriweera took over the management of the hotel. Following strategic decisions in 1963, the company name changed from Colombo Hotels Company to Hotels Colombo Ltd, the hotel renamed as Hotel Taprobane. The re-designing was undertaken by famous architect Mr. Geoffrey Bawa in 1966, which saw the birth of the restaurant – the Harbour room, which overlooked the Colombo port.

Galle Face Court II

               

Lankem Ceylon PLC

 Lankem Ceylon PLC (Lankem) was established in 1964 in Sri Lanka as a private limited liability company and since 1970 its shares are listed on the trading floor of the Colombo Stock Exchange.

The Lankem Group of Companies has a diversified business portfolio comprising manufacturing (paints, agro/industrial chemicals and bituminous products), distribution of consumer products, rubber and tea plantation management and owning and operating resort hotels.

Lankem is a subsidiary of the fully diversified conglomerate, The Colombo Fort Land & Building Company PLC. This acquisition by Lankem greatly strengthens the overall management capabilities of C. W. Mackie PLC Group in the conduct of its affairs and enhances business opportunities availing of synergies.

                         

The Cargills & Millers Building

In 1844, William Miller and David Sime Cargill commenced a general warehouse, import and wholesale business in Colombo, Fort. The establishment was named the 'House of Cargills'. A successful bid by Sir Chittampalam A. Gardiner saw the House of Cargills being incorporated as a Public Limited Liability Company on 1 March 1946.

Millers and Cargills (Ceylon) Ltd, two firms dating back from the British colonial era, said they were merging as part of a restructuring within the Ceylon Theatres group to which they now belong.

Cargills (Ceylon) Ltd and Millers plc both own landmark buildings in Colombo Fort, and are Sri Lanka's first department stores, built during British colonial times.

The merger decision was taken at board meetings of the companies on August 02, the companies said in statements to the Colombo Stock Exchange.

"The Ceylon Theatres group, recognising the growth into diversified sectors, is now of the view that the group's activities should be sectorised for future growth," the company statement said.

"Accordingly, as a first step, . . . it was resolved to commence negotiations leading to the merger of Ceylon Theatres Ltd and Millers plc."

Under the proposed merger framework, minority shareholders of Millers will be offered shares in Ceylon Theatres in return for their holding in Millers on a basis to be determined.

The current operations of Millers are to be consolidated under a single operating structure under Cargills.

The Ceylon Theatres group is controlled by the Page family. Cargills now runs Sri Lanka's largest supermarket chain branded 'Food City.'

The Colombo Dutch Hospital

  The Colombo Dutch Hospital is considered to be the oldest building in the Colombo Fort area dating back to the Dutch colonial era in Sri Lanka.

Built as a hospital by the Dutch, it has been used for several different purposes, over the years. It is believed to have existed since 1681, as recorded by German Christoper Schweitzer.

The building was the Colombo Fort Police Station from the early 1980s to 1990s, prior to which it housed the Colombo Apothecaries. It suffered heavy damage in the LTTE attack that followed the Central Bank bombing in 1996. In 2011, it has been transformed into a shopping and dining precinct, where the historic architecture has been preserved.