Rajakeeya Mawatha ( Sinhalese: රාජකීය මාවත) (

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

: ''Royal Avenue'' formerly ''Race Course Avenue'') is a street in

Colombo Colombo, ( ; , ; , ), is the executive and judicial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. The Colombo metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of 5.6 million, and 752,993 within the municipal limits. It is the ...

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...

, named after

Royal College Colombo Royal College, Colombo also known as; Royal Colombo, Colombo Royal College or Colombo Royal) is a boys' school located in Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Started by Joseph Marsh in 1835, it was established as the Colombo Academy by Si ...

, whose grounds border it on the southern side. Located in the prominent residential area of

Cinnamon Gardens Cinnamon Gardens ( ''Kurundu Vaththa'', ) is an affluent neighbourhood in Colombo, Sri Lanka located 3 kilometers south-east of Colombo's centre. Cinnamon Gardens is named for the former cinnamon plantation in this area. In the year 1789, there w ...

in Colombo 7, it is home to many notable residents and old mansions. The street connects Reid Avenue with

Thurstan Road Kumaratunga Munidasa Mawatha ( Sinhala:කුමාරතුංග මුනිදාස මාවත) (formally ''Thurstan Road'') is a road in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Located in Cinnamon Gardens, it was named after Rev. J. Thurstan, a missionary from ...

and is the Northern border of Royal College, Colombo. It runs east-west line - at its western end is situated the

Orient Club The Orient Club is a gentlemen's club, private members' club, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Established in 1884, it was the first Ceylonese-only social club in the country. Membership of the club is by nomination and election only. History The club was ...

, while at the eastern end is the Obeyesekere Walawa. Two statues at each end of the street commemorate two prominent Sri Lankan politicians, both of whom were assassinated. At the juncture of Rajakeeya Mawatha, Thurstan Road and Flower Road is the statue of Hon.

Lalith Athulathmudali Lalith William Samarasekera Athulathmudali, PC (; 26 November 1936 – 23 April 1993), known as Lalith Athulathmudali, was a Sri Lankan politician. He was a prominent member of the United National Party, who served as Minister of Trade and Sh ...

an eminent Sri Lankan statesmen and an old Royalist, which was erected by the Government of Sri Lanka following his assassination. At the other end of the street is the statue of Sir Solomon Dias Bandaranike colonial era

Maha Mudaliyar The Maha Mudaliyar (''Head Mudaliyar'' or මහ මුදලි) was a colonial title and office in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Head Mudaliyar functioned as the head of the low country native headmen and native aide-de-camp to the Governor of Ceylon. ...

and an old Thomian, erected by the Colombo Turf Club facing the old Race Course which was dilapidated for years and has recently been renovated. Notable residents of Rajakeeya Mawatha include

Deshamanya Deshamanya (; ; Pride of the Nation) is the second-highest national honour of Sri Lanka awarded by the Government of Sri Lanka as a civil honour. It is awarded for "''highly meritorious service''", and is conventionally used as a title or prefi ...

J.P. Obeyesekere III former senator and cabinet minister for health & finance, his wife Dr Siva Obeyesekere, herself a former Health Minister. Notable Businessman Daham Arangallage resides there as well. The Embassy of

Qatar Qatar, officially the State of Qatar, is a country in West Asia. It occupies the Geography of Qatar, Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East; it shares Qatar–Saudi Arabia border, its sole land b ...

is situated here along with the Sri Lanka office of

The Asia Foundation The Asia Foundation (TAF) is a nonprofit international development organization focused on improving lives across Asia. Its programs operate in various sectors, including governance, women's empowerment and gender equality, inclusive economic gr ...

Transportation

Colombo City Bus 120 services Thurstan Road in both directions from

Pettah Pettah may refer to: * Pettah of Ahmednagar, a fortified town outside the Fort of Ahmednagar stormed by British soldiers in 1803 during Second Anglo-Maratha War * Pettah, Colombo, a neighborhood in Colombo, Sri Lanka located east of the City cent ...

Piliyandala Piliyandala (, ) is a suburb in Colombo district , Sri Lanka. It is situated approximately south of Colombo. Piliyandala clock tower According to local residents and documentation, Piliyandala clock tower is the second tallest in the islan ...

and back. Its route intersects Rajakeeya Mawatha at the following point: . The closest bus stop near Rajakeeya Mawatha is Thurstan bus stop at .

References

{{Royal College, Colombo Streets in Colombo Royal College, Colombo