The Central Point

At No. 54 Chatham Street in Colombo Fort, a stately Edwardian building stands as one of the city's most quietly remarkable heritage sites. Central Point — originally known as the National Mutual Building — was completed in 1914 and is today managed by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Its colonnaded façade, circular glass dome, and seven-storey atrium make it architecturally distinctive even by regional standards. Inside, it houses the Economic History Museum of Sri Lanka, a thoughtfully curated institution that traces the island's monetary heritage from the third century BC to the present day.

What is the history of Central Point in Colombo?

The cornerstone of the building was laid in 1911, when the project was commissioned as the Sri Lankan headquarters of the National Mutual Life Association of Australasia Limited — a major global insurer at the time. Upon completion in 1914, it was the tallest structure in Colombo, a landmark that announced commercial ambition at the heart of the colonial city.

Over the following decades, the building changed ownership several times as successive business enterprises occupied it. The trajectory changed dramatically in 1996, when a bomb blast during the civil conflict caused severe damage to the structure. For years afterward, it stood largely abandoned and was used informally as temporary accommodation by security personnel.

In 2011, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka acquired the property and undertook a careful restoration. The work preserved the original architectural character while bringing the interior up to modern museum standards. The Economic History Museum of Sri Lanka opened within these walls in 2013.

What makes Central Point architecturally significant?

The building is designed in a Greco-Roman idiom, most evident in the Corinthian columns that frame the entrance colonnade. The interior is organised around a tapering central atrium that draws natural light down through all seven floors, reaching circular inner halls at each level. Large stained-glass windows, intricate woodwork, decorative tiles, and a monumental chandelier — said to be the largest in South Asia — combine to create an interior that reads as layered and considered rather than merely ornate.

The restoration team took care not to sanitise the building's age. Original materials were retained wherever possible, so the patina of more than a century is still perceptible. For visitors arriving via a Colombo city tour, Central Point sits conveniently near the Dutch Hospital precinct and the Fort Clock Tower, making it a natural inclusion in any walking itinerary through the Fort district.

What can you see at the Economic History Museum of Sri Lanka?

The museum's central subject is the evolution of currency and economic exchange in Sri Lanka — a story that stretches back more than two thousand years and intersects with some of the most consequential trade networks in world history. Sri Lanka's position as a transit point on the maritime Silk Route brought it into commercial contact with traders from Arabia, China, Rome, and Southeast Asia, each interaction leaving traces in the monetary record.

The permanent collection is organised broadly by era:

• Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa periods — early coinage including punch-marked coins and locally minted pieces used during the classical kingdoms. Visitors interested in the Polonnaruwa era will find the numismatic context here particularly illuminating.
• Kotte and Kandyan periods — coins named kahawanu, cetu, panam, gini massa, angutu massa, and thuttu, some with unusual shapes incorporating hooks and perforations.
• Colonial eras (Portuguese, Dutch, British) — the collection includes the only publicly viewable Kayman's Gate copper coin minted by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) on the island, a genuinely rare artefact.
• Modern currency — banknote printing equipment and coin mints illustrate how currency moved from artisanal production to industrial-scale manufacture.

Several interactive stations add practical depth. Magnifying glasses are provided at selected exhibit cases to examine coin detailing; a microscope allows closer study of design motifs; and UV-light panels reveal the security features embedded in banknotes. One of the most engaging displays uses a sculptural diorama of a cow and a fish — with an accompanying explanatory text — to demonstrate the practical limitations of the barter system and why commodity money emerged as a solution.

Upper floors broaden the perspective to include currency systems used across Commonwealth countries, contextualising Sri Lanka's monetary history within a wider global framework. Paintings by Sri Lankan artists are displayed throughout the building, functioning both as aesthetic objects and as historical documents.

A 3D screening room shows a short film on the origins of money — useful orientation for younger visitors or those arriving without prior knowledge of the subject. A small café outside the main entrance serves snacks and coffee.

How do I get to Central Point from central Colombo?

Central Point is located at No. 54 Chatham Street, Colombo 01 (Fort), a short walk from the Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct and within easy reach of the Colombo Fort railway station. The Fort district is well served by tuk-tuks and metered taxis. If you are arriving from outside the city, a private transfer or hired vehicle is the most straightforward option; the building's Chatham Street address is recognisable to most drivers familiar with the Fort area.

Is Central Point worth visiting?

For travellers with an interest in Sri Lankan history, the museum punches well above its modest profile. The collection is genuinely rare — the depth of numismatic material spanning roughly 2,300 years is not replicated anywhere else on the island — and the architectural setting elevates the experience beyond a conventional museum visit. Allow between one and two hours for a thorough visit. The café provides a natural pause point before continuing to other Fort landmarks.

Admission is managed by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. It is advisable to confirm current opening hours directly with the museum before visiting, as institutional museums in Sri Lanka occasionally adjust schedules around public holidays.