Cenotaph War Memorial, Colombo

The Cenotaph War Memorial is a quiet public place of remembrance for service members who died in the two world wars. The foundation stone was laid in 1921, and the monument was unveiled in 1923. After the Second World War, the memorial was updated so it could also honor those who died in World War II.

The main structure is a tall stone cenotaph, about about 36.5 meters high, designed by Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens, known for a clean, straight-lined memorial style. Behind the cenotaph are memorial walls, creating a second space for names and inscriptions.

A key detail is that the memorial does include individual names. The names of those killed in World War I are engraved on the cenotaph itself, while the names of those killed in World War II are listed on the memorial walls behind it. The World War I inscriptions include more than 440 names, among them one woman, Miss L. Midwood, who served as a nurse and is known as Lillian Midwood.

The memorial also has an unusual history: it was first placed at Galle Face Green, then moved during World War II to its current setting in Viharamahadevi Park because officials feared it could be used as a marker for Japanese artillery. On some remembrance days, the area hosts formal ceremonies such as wreath-laying, but on normal days it stays calm, making it easy to visit at your own pace.