Updated: Jul 15

Most of the lighthouses in Sri Lanka were built during the British rule of the country (then
known as Ceylon). These were operated and maintained by the Imperial Lighthouse Service. After Sri Lanka gained independence the operation of the lighthouses was taken over by the Sri Lanka Navy in stages with the completion of transfer by 1976. There are twenty-five lighthouses in Sri Lanka, with sixteen of them being still active. Most of these lighthouses now fall under the control of Sri Lanka Ports Authority, whilst the others are under the control of the Sri Lanka Navy. The four lighthouses are Barberyn Lighthouse at Beruwala, Oluvil, Point Pedro and Colombo’s Galbokka Point.

Being an island, Lighthouses have been an essential element in Sri Lanka’s maritime activities from the earliest times. Even the great tsunami which devastated the Sri Lankan coast on 26th December 2004 failed to destroy any of the lighthouses, though some were slightly damaged.

Details of the Issue

Date of issue : 26th November 2018
Denomination ; Rs. 45.00 x 4
Stamp Designer : Ruwan Upasena
Catalogue No. : Barberyn Lighthouse, Point Pedro Lighthouse Galbokka Point Lighthouse,
Oluvil Lighthouse

Barberyn Lighthouse

Beruwala lighthouse was built in 1890.It is one of four international lighthouses in Sri Lanka. It is a round embossed tower painted white. Situated in an island named Barberyn on the South Western coast of Sri Lanka near the town of Beruwala. Its focal height is 46 meters (151 feet). The white light flashes every 20 seconds and is visible up to 27 nautical miles.

Point Pedro Lighthouse

Point Pedro lighthouse was built in 1916 lies on the Northern coast of Sri Lanka in close
proximity to the town of Point Pedro, the northern most point of Sri Lanka. The focal height of the tower is 31 meters (102 feet) and it flashed a white light every 5 seconds when it was active. The flash could be seen up to 10 nautical miles.

Galbokka Point lighthouse

Galbokka Point lighthouse was built in 1952 after the decommissioning of the nearby Colombo Clock Tower Lighthouse. This round concrete tower was inaugurated by Sri Lanka’s first Prime Minister Rt. Hon.D.S. Senanayake. The focal height of the lighthouse is 26 meters (85 feet). The white light flashes every 10 seconds. The light beam is visible up to 25 nautical miles.

Oluvil Lighthouse

Oluvil lighthouse was built in 1999 with the commissioning of the Oluvil fisheries harbour. It is situated on the Eastern coast of Sri Lanka 12k.m. from the town of Kalmunai. The focal height is 25 meters (82 feet). The white light flashes every 10 seconds.

Shinal Amaratunga