Conservation and preservation of colonial facades in historic urban neighborhoods with special reference to Slave Island

Abstract

Present urban neighborhoods in srilanka are descending from colonial influences; some of the streetscapes are still remaining in several cities and suburbs such as Colombo, Galle fort, Jaffna and Slave Island. These cites represent they own urban identity. Through of the Portuguese, Dutch and British colonial influences, these streetscapes are showing three identities of colonial urban neighborhoods in one city. That is historical product and can't duplicate or rebuild. Colonial building facades are more important part of the colonial urban streetscape however Fac;adeis a view point of the colonial identity. When considering growth of the urban architecture colonial period is bench mark of all cities. When observing of the present colonial neighborhoods, Portuguese, Dutch and British archttectural, cultural and sociological values. The slave island is still remaining and living colonial urban streetscape in Sri Lanka however they represent Dutch and British architectural identity, also strongly felt as result of vanishing.