President's Pavilion

President's Pavilion
General information
Town or city	Kandy
Country	Sri Lanka
Client	Government of Sri Lanka

President's Pavilion is an official residence of the President of Sri Lanka, located in Kandy, Sri Lanka. This was formerly the Governor's Pavilion until 1972 when Sri Lanka became a republic. It is located close to the sacred Temple of the Tooth in the center of the city of Kandy at the head of the Pavilion Street. Although an official residence, it is used rarely for official functions, most notably during the Esala Perahera.

History

After the British gained control of the Kandyan Kingdom in 1815 by the Kandyan Convention it governed the former Kandian Kingdom as a protectorate. However following the Uva Rebellion, three years later in which Kandy was captured by the rebels, the British moved to combined both parts of the island under a central administration. However Kandy remained an important city second only to the capital Colombo.

Therefore a European-style palace was constructed in the late 18th century for the use of the British Governor of Ceylon during his visits to the city. This was used for hosting Royal visits to Kandy, most notably that of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, in 1875.

In 1944, during the Second World War, the South East Asia Command of the allies was moved to Kandy, where it remained till the end of the war. Admiral Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander of the South East Asia Command, took up residence at the Governor's Pavilion till the end of the war.

Following independence in 1948 the house became the official residence of the Governor General of Ceylon in Kandy. It was formally renamed as the President’s Pavilion in 1972, after Sri Lanka became a republic. William Gopallawa was the last Governor General and first President of Sri Lanka to reside at the house.

External links

Landmarks in Kandy

Note: this includes landmarks in Kandy and its fringe areas

City Precincts	Kandy CBD Royal Palace of Kandy University of Peradeniya

Shopping	Kandy City Centre Kandy Municipal Market Royal Mall Torrington Shopping Complex

Entertainment	Bradby Shield Encounter Dharmaraja–Kingswood Cricket Encounter Esala Mangallaya Esala Perahera Trinity-Antonian Cricket Encounter

Public Galleries	D.S. Senanayake Memorial Public Library Kandy Garden Club International Buddhist Museum National Museum of Kandy Relic of the tooth of the Buddha Temple of the Tooth Museum Ceylon Tea Museum

Institutions	2nd Volunteer Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment Asgiriya Maha Vihara Buddhist Publication Society District Secretariat, Kandy General Post Office Institute of Fundamental Studies Kandyan Art Association & Cultural Centre Kandy Court Complex Kandy Municipal Council Malwatte Maha Vihara Mayor of Kandy List of schools in Kandy Teaching Hospital Kandy

Structures	Bahirawakanda temple Bogambara Prison Degaldoruwa Raja Maha Vihara Kandy Clock Tower Kandy Post Office Kandy Town Hall The Kandy House Natha Devale, Kandy Old Kandy Post office President's Pavilion Queen's Hotel, Kandy Sri Dalada Maligawa St. Paul's Church, Kandy Suisse Hotel

Sports Stadia	Asgiriya Stadium Bogambara Stadium Dharmaraja College Ground Nittawela Rugby Stadium Pallekele International Cricket Stadium Victoria Golf & Country Resort

Parks/Spaces	Arthur's seat British Garrison Cemetery Kandy War Cemetery Central Highlands of Sri Lanka Dorwin reservoir E. L. Senanayake Children's Park George E. De Silva Park Kandy Lake Hanthana Mountain Range Alagalla Mountain Range Knuckles mountain range Mahaweli River Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya Udawatta Kele Sanctuary Wales Park

Transport	Asgiriya Railway Station D.S. Senanayake Veediya Kandy Bus Station Kandy Railway Station Katugastota Railway Station Mahiyawa Railway Station Peradeniya Junction Railway Station Sangaraja Mawatha Sarasavi Uyana Railway Station Sirimavo Bandaranaike Mawatha Sri Dalada Veediya William Gopallawa Mawatha Yatinuwara Veediya

See also Events in Kandy

Coordinates: 7°15′50″N 80°38′25″E / 7.26389°N 80.64028°E / 7.26389; 80.64028

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 6/28/2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.