One of the oldest houses in Galle Fort
- Middle Street, Galle Fort
Built in the Portuguese Period, this house is known to be one of the oldest in Galle Fort.
The house
This prestigious property was used as a house for the leaders of both the Dutch and the Portuguese. Later, it was used as the New Mansion Hotel and as a department store by Bogaar and Ephraum families. It then passed through another Fort family, the Macan Markars, to the current owners. Up until today, it is used as a residential building. It is about one-third of the size of the original house; the property was split for practical reasons. The long hall was separated into two rooms, two new bathrooms were added, and a partition wall was added in the courtyard.
Drawings by
A.A.H.P. Wijesundara, Y. Anputhasan, D.G.N.Y. Dissanayaka, M.D.C.H. Goonetilleke, E.I. Kappagoda, S. Peraisoody, A.H. Swarnadhipathi, A.K.G.T.D. Wijerathna