Republic Building

The Republic Building, which houses the Ministry of Foreign Relations and the Cabinet Office, is situated in the Colombo Fort area, next to the President's House. It was known as the Senate Building until 1972.

The building was constructed during the British colonial era to house the Legislative Council of Ceylon until 1930, when a new building was opened for the Legislative Council. During the colonial period, it accommodated several government departments.

Following independence in 1948, the building served as home to the Senate of Ceylon, the Prime Minister's Office, the Cabinet Office, and the Ministry of External Affairs and Defence. It was renamed the Republic Building when Sri Lanka became a republic in 1972.

Since 1977, after the Ministry of External Affairs and Defence was split, the building has been used exclusively by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (later renamed Ministry of Foreign Relations). It currently houses both the Ministry of Foreign Relations and the Office of the Cabinet of Ministers.

Some drawings of the Republic Building

(Below Line Drawing & entry titled ‘The Foreign Ministry’ is from “Colombo Heritage” Written by Jan Baldwin. Illustrated by Nicki McHarg, Sarah Baldwin and the Author. Stamford Lake Publication, 2003)