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THE HOMES IN WARD PLACE IN ITS EARLY DAYS, WHEN IT WAS KNOWN AS THE HARLEY STREET OF COLOMBO – by Hugh Karunanayake, Dr Srilal Fernando, and Avinder Paul    ENTRANCE TO WARD PLACE/ EYE HOSPITAL                       Ward Place in the heart of Cinnamon Gardens is a roadway linking the epi centre of the Colombo Municipality with the eastern area of metropolitan Colombo. Two centuries ago, there was no roadway in the area, which was part of cinnamon plantations established during the Dutch period of occupation of the maritime areas of Ceylon. When a  road to the area was first built in the nineteenth century it was named Borella Road, later to be named Ward Place.  Arunachalam Ponnambalam was a man of foresight and great acumen. Originating from the village of Manipay in the north of the island, he sought opportunities for work ...