Ever wondered what it would be like to shop in a former asylum? Welcome to Arcade Independence Square Park in Colombo. This isn’t your typical shopping mall. Arcade Independence Square is a blend of history and modernity.
Let’s step back in time. In 1889, this site was the Jawatta Lunatic Asylum. Imagine this very spot filled with different energy. The asylum was built to replace the old facility at Borella. Governor Sir William Gregory made the decision. He acted on Dr. W. R. Kynsey’s recommendation.
Back then, the asylum housed 400 patients. But overcrowding became a problem quickly. By 1926, all patients were moved to a new facility in Angoda. The buildings then housed the University College. Later, the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation moved in. The Public Administration Department followed. So did the Auditor General’s Department and the Government Analyst’s Department.
Fast forward to 2012. The Urban Development Authority began a massive renovation. Their goal was to create a shopping complex. They wanted to preserve the original architecture. Modern features were added carefully. It took 200 soldiers six months to clear the space. The full renovation took almost two years. The cost? Rs 550 million.
In July 2014, Arcade Independence Square Park officially opened. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa did the honors. Today, Arcade Independence Square boasts over 40 stores and services. The total retail floor area is 8400 square metres.
Look around you. Notice the colonial architecture. This building once housed people with mental health issues. Longdon defended the cost. He described it as plain one-story buildings. He said there was no expensive ornamentation. But even without ornament, the design has an inherent beauty.
Arcade Independence Square also houses Sri Lanka’s first boutique cinema called The Empire Cineplex. This is run by Ceylon Theatres.
Take a stroll through Arcade Independence Square. Enjoy the blend of old and new. Imagine the stories these walls could tell. From asylum to shopping complex, this place has seen it all. Arcade Independence Square Park is more than just a mall. It’s a piece of Sri Lankan history.