Sri Lanka is set to call for investment proposals to redevelop the historic Bogambara Prison, with plans to transform the former jail into a commercially viable project while preserving its architectural and historical heritage, officials said.
Authorities said investment opportunities will be invited shortly to redevelop the 135-year-old complex, potentially as a hotel or mixed-use development, in a manner that safeguards its original structure and distinctive architectural features. The prison comprises three floors, each containing 108 cells.
Bogambara Prison, constructed on reclaimed land after the filling of the Bogambara Lake, was officially closed on January 1, 2014. The building is noted in historical records as having been architecturally designed by F Vine.
The prison holds a significant place in Sri Lanka’s penal and political history. It is recorded as the country’s only prison equipped with a gallows capable of carrying out two executions simultaneously. Among those executed at the facility were W.A. Siripala, widely known as “Maru Sira,” and the famed outlaw Utuwankande Sura Saradiyel.
Historical accounts note that during executions, all entry gates to the prison were kept open to allow any last-minute reprieve orders to be delivered without obstruction, even at the final moment.
Several prominent political figures were also imprisoned at Bogambara, including Colvin R. de Silva, Philip Gunawardena, and William de Silva.
Officials said the proposed redevelopment aims to reimagine the historic site for modern use while ensuring its past is carefully preserved and interpreted for future generations. (Newswire)