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Slave Island

Coordinates: 6°55′37″N 79°50′55″E / 6.92694°N 79.84861°E / 6.92694; 79.84861
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Company Roads[1]
කොම්පඤ්ඤ වීදිය
கொம்பனித்தெரு
Suburb
Beira Lake and Company Roads
Beira Lake and Company Roads
Company Roads[1] is located in Central Colombo
Company Roads[1]
Company Roads[1]
Company Roads[1] is located in Greater Colombo
Company Roads[1]
Company Roads[1]
Company Roads[1] is located in Colombo District
Company Roads[1]
Company Roads[1]
Company Roads[1] is located in Sri Lanka
Company Roads[1]
Company Roads[1]
Coordinates: 6°55′37″N 79°50′55″E / 6.92694°N 79.84861°E / 6.92694; 79.84861
CountrySri Lanka
ProvinceWestern Province
DistrictColombo District
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone)
Postal Code
00200

Company Roads (Sinhala: කොම්පඤ්ඤ වීදිය, lit. 'Company Roads'; Tamil: கொம்பனித்தெரு) also known as Kampong Kertel and Kompanna Veediya,[2] formerly known as Slave Island, is a suburb in Colombo, Sri Lanka, located directly south of the Fort. The suburb contains Beira Lake, a large lake and its esplanade is visited by many for recreation. Company Roads is mostly a commercial area with hotels, shopping centres, street food stalls, and is known for its multicultural, especially Malay heritage.

History

The name "Slave Island" was coined during the period of British colonial rule and was a reference to the usage of the island under Portuguese rule as a holding area for African slaves, most of them from the Swahili coast and Portuguese East Africa. Many of these slaves later returned to Africa. However, a small group of African descendants remain scattered throughout Sri Lanka and are collectively known as Sri Lankan Kaffirs.[3]

In 2023, the Sri Lankan Prime Minister issued instructions to discontinue the use of exonym "Slave Island" in favour of "Company Roads/Kompanna Veediya”.[4]

Demographic

The Murugan Temple in Company Roads

Company Roads is a multicultural area known for its mix of Malay, Sinhalese and Tamil cultures and is a traditional Malay cultural district in Colombo.[5][6] The larger ethnic communities in Company Roads are the Sri Lankan Malays, Sri Lankan Muslims and Sinhalese. There are also various minorities, such as Burghers and others. Religions include Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and various other religions and beliefs.

Infrastructure

Company Roads is served by the Company Roads Railway Station. Built with Victorian-era architectural embellishments, the station carries significant architectural and historic value. The building features stylish arches, intricate woodwork and metal installations, which emphasise Victorian-era styles.[7]

Demolitions

Many historic buildings in the Company Roads area were either demolished or are awaiting to be demolished due to recent high rise development. Despite the architectural and historic value most buildings are not properly maintained and as a result most have become run down. The shophouse-style buildings in Justice Akbar Mawatha which are to be demolished is said to be the place where D.R. Wijewardene, D.S. Senanayake and Oliver Goonetilleke met to discuss the constitutional reforms that led to Sri Lanka's independence in 1948.[8][9][10]

Military

Diplomatic missions

Photos

  • The Seema Malakaya of the Gangarama Temple in the Beira Lake in the Company Roads area, is one of many religious structures in Colombo
    The Seema Malakaya of the Gangarama Temple in the Beira Lake in the Company Roads area, is one of many religious structures in Colombo

References

  1. ^ "Prime Minister's Office, Sri Lanka". www.pmoffice.gov.lk. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  2. ^ "The Slave Island That We Have Forgotten". roar.media. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  3. ^ de Silva Jayasuriya, S. (1999). Portuguese in Sri Lanka: influence of substratum languages. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland 9(2): 251-270.
  4. ^ "Prime Minister's Office, Sri Lanka". www.pmoffice.gov.lk. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  5. ^ "Residents Express Mixed Emotions as Historic Slave Island Prepares for Demolition". Global Press Journal. 2013-08-29. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  6. ^ "Slave Island".
  7. ^ "Protecting historic Slave Island Railway Station". Community/Livelihood Development. John Keells Group. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
  8. ^ "Residents Express Mixed Emotions as Historic Slave Island Prepares for Demolition". Global Press Journal. 2013-08-29. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  9. ^ "Roar Media". roar.media. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  10. ^ "Don't bulldoze our colonial shop houses into oblivion". The Sunday Times Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2018-08-22.


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