Independence Memorial Hall

Independence Memorial Hall
Independence Commemoration Hall
Location in greater Colombo
Alternative names	Independence Commemoration Hall
General information
Location	Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo
Coordinates	Coordinates: 6°54′16.5″N 79°52′02.2″E / 6.904583°N 79.867278°E / 6.904583; 79.867278
Construction started	4 February 1949
Completed	1953
Owner	Ministry of Cultural Affairs
Technical details
Floor area	10,000 sq. ft
Design and construction
Architect	Tom Neville Wynne-Jones
Other designers	Shirley D’Alwis

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 at the 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. Apart from a monument it served as the ceremonial assembly hall for the Senate of Ceylon and the House of Representatives of Ceylon until the parliament was moved to the new parliament complex. Currently it is the venue for religious events and annual national day celebrations.

The building was designed by a group of eight notable architects led by Tom Neville Wynne-Jones CBE, and included F.H. Billimoria, Shirley de Alwis, Oliver Weerasinghe, Homi Billimoria, Justin Samarasekera and M. B. Morina. The design of the building is based on the Magul Maduwa (Celebration Hall), the Royal audience hall of the Kingdom of Kandy the last native kingdom of the island, where on 5 March 1815 the Kandyan Convention was signed between the British and the Kandyian Chieftains (Radalas) ending the Kingdom of Kandy.