ABSTRACT
Cast-iron ruins of telegraph and electricity poles across Sri Lanka, dating to British colonial times, highlight the story of an interesting initial attempt that many innovations would follow in later years. This chapter speaks of the many examples which are in ruins across the city of Colombo and its surrounding areas. Standing mostly half severed, with only a few metres from the base having survived the test of time, these are also notably hidden away from the public eye. Nevertheless, these iron ruins stand as sentinels of colonial history that speak of the beginning of experimentation with electricity and communication on the island. This was also the beginning of a new chapter of communication across Sri Lanka.
