Galle Clock Tower

Galle Clock Tower Galle Clock Tower Galle Clock Tower

The Galle Clock Tower is a four story tall stone monument hailing from the late 19th century. It was built within the ramparts of the Galle Fort on the site of the previous guardroom, overlooking one of the three bastions of the fort.

The clock tower was built in recognition of the services of renowned Colonial Surgeon Dr. Antonisz, who was also a representative of the Legislative Council. The tower construction was funded through public subscription through the people of Galle. The clock was separately donated by Mudaliyar Samson de Abrew Rajapakse, who was grateful for the medical care that he received from the good doctor.

Even today a plaque can be seen stating: “This tower erected by public subscription to the perpetual memory of Peter Daniel Anthonisz (born in Galle) in testimony of his skill and benevolence in relieving human suffering. MDCCCLXXXIII”.

Please Note: While the aged clock tower is a great monument to photograph, it will take some skillful maneuvering due to the extreme angle close by. Hence it might be better to photograph it from the Moon Bastion which the tower faces.

Galle Clock Tower Galle Clock Tower Galle Clock Tower
【LK94009896: Galle Clock Tower. Images by Google, copyright(s) reserved by original authors.】

About Galle District

Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo.Galle is the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in south and Southeast Asia, showing the interaction between European architectural styles and south Asian traditions. The Galle fort is a world heritage site and the largest remaining fortress in Asia built by European occupiers.

Galle is a sizeable town, by Sri Lankan standards, and has a population of 91,000, the majority of whom are of Sinhalese ethnicity. There is also a large Sri Lankan Moor minority, particularly in the fort area, which descend from Arab merchants that settled in the ancient port of Galle.

About Southern Province

The Southern Province of Sri Lanka is a small geographic area consisting of the districts of Galle, Matara and Hambantota. Subsistence farming and fishing is the main source of income for the vast majority of the people of this region.

Important landmarks of the Southern Province include the wildlife sanctuaries of the Yala and Udawalawe National Parks, the holy city of Kataragama, and the ancient cities of Tissamaharama, Kirinda and Galle. (Although Galle is an ancient city, almost nothing survives from before the Portuguese invasion.) During the Portuguese period there were two famous Sinhalese poets called Andare who was from Dickwella and Gajaman Nona who was from Denipitiya in Matara District, composing poems on common man.

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