Piliyandala Clock Tower

The Piliyandala Clock Tower is located in the Piliyandala, Sri Lanka. The clock tower is a popular landmark of the Piliyandala. According to local residents and documentation, this clock tower is one of the tallest on the island rising to a height of 23.8 m (78 ft) with a 4.9 m (16 ft) girth. The clock tower in existence for more than sixty years, is considered to be of archaeological value, thus providing the Piliyandala town with a historical background.[1]

Piliyandala Clock Tower
General information
TypeClock tower
LocationPiliyandala, Sri Lanka
Construction started11 September 1952
Completed30 April 1953
Height24m

History

Late D. Simon Samarakoon erected this clock tower in memory of his parents Cornelis Wijewickrema Samarakoon and his wife. The foundation stone for the erection of the clock tower was laid by the then Minister of Local Government C.W.W. Kannangara on 11 September 1952. The construction was completed in seven months and the clock tower was commissioned on 30 April 1953, and has been running ever since.[2]

Features

The three-tiered clock tower has been built with brick and cement and has a concrete layer on the topmost floor complete with an iron staircase within to reach it. At the top of the iron staircase, there is a box (1.52m x 1.2m) which houses three operating machines of the clock. These three winding-mechanisms simultaneously operate with a key' once a week to power the clock. Each of the four faces of the clock is over 1.52 m (5 ft 0 in) wide.

The minute hand is two-and-half feet long while the hour-hand is 0.61 m (2 ft 0 in) in length. A 0.3 m (1 ft 0 in) broad round butte' hangs from a five-foot long supporting bar. The clock tower is also equipped with three large chimes, each 0.92 m (3 ft 0 in) tall and 0.61 m (2 ft 0 in) broad to announce the hour.[1]

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References
  1. Wickramage, Florance. "Homage to 50 years old clock tower". Daily News. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  2. Sri Lanka Telecom. "Sri Lanka Telecom Pura Varuna - Piliyandala Clock Tower". Youtube. Sri Lanka Telecom PLC. Retrieved 21 June 2015.


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