The Orient Club is a
private members' club
Private members' clubs are organisations which provide social and other facilities to members who typically pay a membership fee for access and use. Some were originally elitist gentlemen's clubs to which members first had to be elected; others ...
, in
Colombo
Colombo ( ; si, කොළඹ, translit=Koḷam̆ba, ; ta, கொழும்பு, translit=Koḻumpu, ) is the executive and judicial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. According to the Brookings Institution, Colombo m ...
,
Sri Lanka. Established in 1884, it was the first Ceylonese-only social club in the country. Membership of the club is by nomination and election only.
History
The club was founded in 1894, by a number of leading Ceylonese, including
Walter Pereira. It was formed by the Sinhalese elite in response to the restrictions on Ceylonese membership by the exclusive British
Colombo Club
The Colombo Club is the second oldest gentlemen's club in Sri Lanka.
The Colombo Club was established on 4 March 1871 by prominent British colonialists in the island at the Colpity Race Course Grandstand. The original resolution stating, "'' ...
, established earlier in 1871, and denied membership to Europeans. Founding members included
Frederick Dornhorst,
James Peiris
Sir James Peiris (20 December 1856 – 5 May 1930) was a prominent leader in the Sri Lankan independence movement, the first elected Vice-President of the Legislative Council of Ceylon and the first native Governor of Ceylon (Acting). ,
Wilmont Arthur de Silva, E. J. Samerawickreme and
F. R. Senanayake.
The club was initially located on Darley Road, before moving to "Lynden Hall" in Flower Road and then "Elscourt" in Turret Road before settling at its present premises in
Racecourse Avenue (now known as Rajakeeya Mawatha). The Turret Road building now forms part of
Bishop's College, an Anglican all-girls school.
See also
*
List of Sri Lankan gentlemen's clubs
References
{{Reflist
Colombo society
1894 establishments in Ceylon
Gentlemen's clubs in Sri Lanka
Organizations established in 1894
Clubs and societies in Sri Lanka