Colombo Lighthouse, lighthouse at Galbokka Point, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Colombo Lighthouse is a 29-metre-high tower on a 12-metre concrete base at Galbokka Point, south of the Port of Colombo. Four lion statues stand at its base, and the structure is operated by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.
The tower was built in 1952 to replace an earlier lighthouse that previously stood at this location. Its inauguration took place during the later stages of Sri Lankan colonial history and reflected the importance placed on port infrastructure.
The naval gun battery at the lighthouse base delivers ceremonial salutes during national celebrations, including a 25-gun salute on Sri Lankan Independence Day.
The lighthouse sits within a high-security zone near the Naval Headquarters and is not open to public entry. Visitors can view the structure from Marine Drive at a distance without approaching the restricted area.
The guns at the base have moved twice: three 52 mm pieces gifted by the Indian Navy were installed in 2000 and fired the salutes until 2020. In 2021 the Independence Day salute came from the offshore patrol vessel SLNS Samudura, since the lighthouse stood landlocked after Colombo Port City was built.
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