The British's first permanent post office in the country was established in Colombo in 1882 when the country was a crown colony. It was housed in several different locations until the General Post Office building at 17 Kings Street (now known as Janadhipathi Mawatha), Colombo Fort, opposite the-then Governor's residence at King's House (now the President's House) in 1895.

The site, bounded by Kings Street, Prince Street (now Srimath Baron Jayathilake), Baille Street (now Mudalige Mawatha), was a former rock quarry.

The building was designed by Herbert Frederick Tomalin of the Public Works Department and built by Arasi Marikar Wapchi Marikar. Tomalin (1852-1944) was an English engineer/architect who migrated to Ceylon in June 1886 to take up a position in the Ceylon Civil Service. His first position was as a District Engineer; however, as a result of his involvement in several government buildings in Colombo and his architectural qualifications, he was entrusted with designing and supervising the construction of the GPO. In 1922 he returned to England. Marikar (1829-1925), a local mason/builder and the paternal grandfather of Sir Razik Fareed, constructed several landmark buildings in Colombo, including the National Museum of Colombo, Colombo Fort Clock Tower, former Colombo Town Hall, Galle Face Hotel and Colombo Customs building.

Unique Sri Lanka

Former General Post Office, Colombo

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