The granddaughter of Sir William Henry Gregory, the first Governor of Nuwara Eliya, has revealed that her grandfather secretly sold the Presidential Palace in Nuwara Eliya to the Sri Lankan government for £1,500 without the permission of the British government.
During a tour of Nuwara Eliya, Ms. Belenda Hunt and her husband, Myles, visited the historic Presidential Palace. Speaking to the media at the Alpine Hotel in Nuwara Eliya, she shared insights about her grandfather’s tenure as Governor from 1871 to 1875 and the palace’s history.
Ms. Hunt explained that Sir William Henry Gregory had personally owned the Presidential Palace, which was later sold to the Sri Lankan government under undisclosed circumstances. She and her husband, who were visiting Sri Lanka for the first time, had long wished to see the building where her grandfather once resided.
Upon making a request to officials at the Presidential Secretariat, they were promptly granted permission to visit the site. Ms. Hunt expressed her gratitude for the warm welcome they received at the Presidential Palace, where they were hosted for a tea party. She described the palace as a symbol of Sri Lanka’s grandeur, situated on 125 acres of well-maintained land.
During her visit, she suggested that the palace be preserved as a museum, allowing the public to learn about its historical significance. She emphasized that maintaining such heritage sites would contribute to Sri Lanka’s cultural legacy.
As part of their tour, Ms. Hunt and her husband also visited Gregory Lake, a landmark built by her grandfather, which she described as an essential part of Nuwara Eliya’s charm. They later explored Victoria Park and its museum, where she met Mahinda Dodampegamage, the former Mayor of the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council. She encouraged efforts to enhance the museum’s management and upkeep.
Ms. Hunt also attended the opening of the Eagles Observation Deck, a project by the Sri Lanka Air Force in the Shanthipura area of Nuwara Eliya, where she engaged in a discussion with Foreign Affairs and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath.
The couple arrived in Nuwara Eliya by train, making the journey an even more nostalgic experience as they retraced the historical landmarks tied to Ms. Hunt’s family heritage.
