Independence Memorial Hall

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Independence Memorial Hall
Location in greater Colombo
Alternative names	Independence Commemoration Hall
General information
Location	Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Coordinates	6°54′16.5″N 79°52′02.2″E / 6.904583°N 79.867278°E / 6.904583; 79.867278
Construction started	4 February 1949[1]
Completed	1953
Owner	Ministry of Cultural Affairs
Technical details
Floor area	930 m2 (10,000 sq ft)
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Tom Neville Wynne-Jones
Other designers	Shirley D’Alwis

Independence Memorial Hall (also known as Independence Commemoration Hall) is a national monument in Sri Lanka built for commemoration of the independence of Sri Lanka from the British rule with the restoration of full governing responsibility^[2] to a Ceylonese-elected legislature on 4 February 1948. It is located in Independence Square (formerly Torrington Square) in the Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo. It also houses the Independence Memorial Museum.

The monument was built at the location where the formal ceremony marking the start of self-rule, with the opening of the first parliament by Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester occurred at a special podium on 4 February 1948.

Located at the head of the monument is the statue of the first prime minister of the country Rt. Hon. Don Stephen Senanayake "The Father of the Nation". Most of the annual National Independence Day celebrations have been held here. Apart from a monument it served as the ceremonial assembly hall for the Senate of Ceylon and the House of Representatives of Ceylon until the parliament was moved to the new parliament complex. Currently it is the venue for religious events and annual national day celebrations.