Captain Dawson Tower

Captain Dawson Tower is a commemorative pillar in Kadugannawa in Kandy District, Sri Lanka. The tower is located next to Colombo – Kandy road, between Kadugannawa railway station and Kadugannawa old rock tunnel. The tower is considered an important monument related to the history of Sri Lankan road development (Rajapakse, 2016).

The Tower

The tower, which is around 38 meters tall and shaped like a lighthouse, was constructed. It has a door at the back of the tower that leads inside. Visitors ascend the tower’s inside spiral staircase, which is attached to a large wooden column in the centre

The plaque fixed at the base of the tower can be read as follows,
“Captain W. F Dawson During the government of General Sir E Barnes GCB, Commanding Royal Engineer Ceylon, Whose science and skill planned & executed this road and other works of public utility, died at Colombo 28th March 1829. Subscription among his friends and admirals in Ceylon. This monument was raised to his memory. 1832”

History

The tower was built in 1832 as a tribute to Captain William Francis Dawson, a British engineer who was in charge of planning and building the current Colombo-Kandy route (Rajapakse, 2016). However, the engineer passed prematurely on March 28, 1829, before the road was finished. With the help of the private funds gathered by Captain Dawson’s admirers, the tower was built at Kadugannawa’s highest point as a memorial to his service (Abeywardana, 2004).