Isipathanaramaya Temple

Colombo is a relatively young city by South Asian standards. Its oldest structures date back only a few centuries, a stark contrast to the millennia-old dagobas of Anuradhapura or the medieval stone temples of Polonnaruwa. Against that backdrop, Isipathanaramaya in Havelock Town (Colombo 05) holds a special place — not just as one of the city's oldest surviving Buddhist temples, but as a monument tied to one of colonial Sri Lanka's most poignant stories of injustice and remembrance.

What is the history behind Isipathanaramaya Temple?

The temple was founded in 1916 by Duenuge Disan Pedris, a prosperous merchant, in memory of his son Captain Henry Pedris. The younger Pedris was a well-regarded figure in Colombo society who was executed by British authorities during the martial law period that followed the Sinhala-Muslim riots of 1915.

The riots began in Kandy amid communal tensions and spread rapidly across the island. The British governor, struggling to restore order, declared martial law and authorised death sentences without trial for anyone deemed a rioter. Captain Henry Pedris, whose prominence had earned him enemies, was falsely implicated by Solomon Dias Bandaranaike — who served as a key native interpreter — as a participant in the unrest. He was executed on those fabricated charges and buried without the honours his rank deserved.

The truth emerged only years later, and Henry Pedris was posthumously cleared. By then, his father had already channelled his grief into lasting acts of remembrance: building this temple on a two-hectare family property that had been in the Pedris estate since 1905, and taking other philanthropic steps that ensured his son's name would endure. Today, Captain Henry Pedris is widely regarded as a martyr and early nationalist figure in Sri Lankan history.

What makes the architecture and murals of Isipathanaramaya significant?

Duenuge Pedris spared little expense in the temple's construction. The building blends traditional Kandyan and low-country Buddhist architectural elements with the colonial-era sensibilities of the early twentieth century, resulting in a structure that feels both rooted in Sri Lankan heritage and distinctly of its time.

The interior murals are the temple's most celebrated feature. Painted between 1920 and 1921 by Master Artist Sarlis, they depict scenes of Buddhist religious significance drawn from classical iconographic traditions. What distinguishes Sarlis's work is its departure from the flatter, more stylised aesthetic typical of older temple paintings. His compositions are realistic and expressive, with a liveliness that has led art historians and devotees alike to regard them as among the finest early twentieth-century examples of Sri Lankan Buddhist mural art.

The statues housed within the temple grounds complement the murals, together forming an interior that rewards careful, unhurried attention. The overall layout of the complex has been largely preserved in its original form, giving visitors a sense of how a mid-colonial-era Colombo temple was conceived and used.

How did Isipathanaramaya shape the neighbourhood around it?

The temple's growing influence through the mid-twentieth century is reflected in the changes to its immediate surroundings. By the 1950s, Isipathanaramaya had become sufficiently well known that both the street on which it stands — formerly Greenlands Road — and a school on the same road — formerly Greenlands College — were renamed in its honour. They are now known as Isipathana Mawatha and Isipathana Maha Vidyalaya respectively.

This is an unusual legacy for a single religious institution in an urban neighbourhood, and it speaks to how deeply the temple, and the story attached to it, had embedded itself in local identity over the course of just a few decades.

What can visitors expect when they visit today?

Isipathanaramaya remains an active place of worship, so visitors should dress modestly — shoulders and knees covered — and remove footwear before entering the temple precincts. Photography etiquette follows standard Buddhist temple norms: avoid photographing worshippers without permission and refrain from posing with your back to Buddha statues.

The compound is set within a relatively quiet pocket of Havelock Town, which is itself one of the more characterful residential areas of central Colombo. The surrounding streets offer good examples of colonial-era bungalows alongside newer apartment blocks, making the walk to and from the temple part of the experience for those interested in the city's architectural layers.

A Colombo city tour that includes Isipathanaramaya pairs naturally with other historical sites in the city — the Colombo National Museum, Gangaramaya Temple, and the Old Dutch Hospital precinct are all within a reasonable distance.

How do I get to Isipathanaramaya from central Colombo?

The temple sits on Isipathana Mawatha in Havelock Town, Colombo 05. From Colombo Fort or the city centre, the journey typically takes around 20 to 30 minutes by taxi depending on traffic conditions. Ride-hailing apps are widely available in Colombo and are a convenient option. The area is also served by several bus routes running through Havelock Road.

Is Isipathanaramaya Temple only for Buddhist visitors?

Like most Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka, Isipathanaramaya welcomes visitors of all backgrounds. Respectful curiosity is understood and appreciated. The temple functions simultaneously as a religious site, a historical monument, and — given its extraordinary founding story — a place of quiet reflection on colonial-era Sri Lankan history. Visitors interested in the broader context of Buddhist practice in Sri Lanka may also find it useful to understand the role of Dhamma Schools, many of which are attached to urban temples like this one.