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The architect behind Colombo’s Grand Mosque-By Nishan Fernando Source:Sundaytimes On May 1, 2002, the then Editor of The Island newspaper, Gamini Weerakoon, wrote an appreciation on his close friend Ananda Peiris on his third month death anniversary, mentioning among many things that Mr. Peiris had designed the Colombo Grand Mosque at Pettah. Very keen to see her father’s creation, my wife Anoushka and I arranged a visit through a Moor acquaintance. We found an imposing structure in the old quarter of Central Colombo, a solitary date palm standing sentinel at the main entrance. The building was rather modern in comparison to the others on Moor Street. A small cannon in the compound puzzled me by its presence in a place of worship. Many years later, I found an article from the Ceylon Daily News of February 7, 1972 that gave extensive details of the building of the Mosque, which commenced ...