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Sri Jayawardhanapura Kotte, founded in the 3rd quarter of the 14th century by King Vikramabahu III's powerful Prime Minister Nissaka Alakesvara was the seat of Government of Sri Lanka in the glorious reign of King Parakramabahu VI.
Thirty two years after the advent of the British to Sri Lanka and 12 years after the signing of the Kandyan Convention, a Royal Commission comprising Lieutenant Colonel W.G.M. Colebroke and Charles Hay Cameron visited the Island in 1827 to report on reforms to the administrative and judicial systems of the country. The Commission recommended the setting up of two separate councils. Thus, on March 19, 1833 in accordance with the recommendations of Colebrooke-Cameron Commission, the Executive Council and the Legislative Council - the first legislative bodies of the colonial Ceylon - were set up by then Governor Sir Robert Horton.
This building declared open on January 29, 1930 by then Governor Sir Herbert Stanley, housed the legislature till April 1982. Consequent to constitutional reforms, the name of the legislature changed several times as follows: I. The Legislative Council (1833 - 1931) - at the time the old Parliament building was declared open, the number of members of the council was 49. II. The State Council (1931 - 1947) III.The House of Representatives(1947 - 1972) - the membership of the House was increased to 101 with the introduction of the Soulbury Constitution. The number of members was further increased to 157 in accordance with the recommendations of the Delimitation Commission. IV. The National State Assembly(1972 -1978) - with introduction of the Republican Constitution the membership increased to 168. V. Parliament (1978- up to now)- 225 members. The increase in the membership and the consequent workload of Parliament created an awareness of the need for a new Parliament building with adequate accommodation and attendant facilities. So a decision was taken by the Government after the General Election of 1977 for the construction of a new House of Parliament at Sri Jayawardhanapura Kotte. In July 04, 1979 Parliamentary sanction was given for the construction. Mr Geoffrey Bawa of Edward Reid and Begg was accepted as the architect and a Japanese consortium of two Mitsui Companies signed a US $ 25.4 million contract with the Sri Lankan Government for the construction of the proposed new building complex. The laying of the foundation was held in November 1979. Twenty six months later, there rose in majestic splendour on the blue waters of the Diyawanna Oya Sri Lanka's four storeyed Parliament Building. General Election - 2000 - Composition of Parliament |
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Produced by Lake House |
In 1815, the Kandyan Kingdom and subsequently the whole Island came
under British rule under the Kandyan Convention.
The Executive Council and the legislative Council met in the building
opposite the picturesque Gorden Gardens, now occupied by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, until the scene was shifted to the old Parliamentary
Building fronting the ocean at Galle Face.