The Old Colombo Lighthouse (also known as the Colombo Fort Clock Tower or Chatham Street Clock Tower) is a significant historical landmark in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Key facts about the structure:

• Dual Purpose: It was originally built to serve as both a clock tower and a lighthouse. A plaque on the tower claims it is the only lighthouse clock tower in the world.
• Location: It stands at the junction of Chatham Street and Janadhipathi Mawatha (formerly Queen’s Road) in the Colombo Fort area.
• Construction: It was constructed between 1856 and 1857 and was, at the time, the tallest structure in Colombo at 29 meters (95 feet) high.
• Design and Clock: It was designed by Emily Elizabeth Ward, the wife of Governor Sir Henry George Ward. The clock mechanism was crafted by Dent, the same English clockmakers who manufactured London’s famous “Big Ben” clock.
• Lighthouse Decommissioning: The tower’s function as a lighthouse was deactivated in 1952. This was because the light became increasingly obscured by the tall buildings being constructed around it. A new lighthouse, the Galle Buck Lighthouse, was erected as its replacement.
• Current Status: Today, it functions solely as a clock tower and is a historical monument, reflecting the city’s colonial past and maritime history. It is also reportedly the central point from which road distances throughout Sri Lanka are measured.