Suriyakantha, Kandy
HERITAGE HOME • GALLERY • RESTAURANT
A Jewel of Kandyan Heritage
Suriyakantha Centre for Art & Culture
A place immersed in national history, regional arts & crafts, and the rich tapestry of world cultures…
Once the residence of a noble of the Kandyan court, this eighteenth-century walawwa—now the Suriyakantha Museum—blends the elegance of Dutch colonial architecture with Sinhalese craftsmanship.
Surrounded by a lush green sanctuary, shaped by the singular magic of Kandy’s climate—the cultural capital of Sri Lanka—the manor opens its doors to visitors while remaining true to its original spirit.
Its collection, patiently assembled by its founders, the late Rohan de Silva (1950 - 2009) and the late Dr. Jacques Soulié (1939 - 2025), brings together traditional furniture, rare books, manuscripts, photographs, as well as antique maps and postcards.
Treasures that bear witness to centuries of dialogue between East and West — a dialogue of which Suriyakantha remains, to this day, a living expression.
Anniversary
Jacques Christian Soulié — In Memoriam
Durée : 22 minutes — français, sous-titres anglais
Filmed in 2023 in Mirabel, near Toulouse, and expanded with footage shot again in 2026 in the same places, this documentary portrait gives the floor to Dr Jacques Soulié (†2025), French psychiatrist and co-founder of the Suriyakantha Centre.
Hear the Story from Our Founders
Co-founder Dr. Jacques Soulié, psychiatrist and former Director of the Alliance Française in Kandy, invites you to discover the story of Suriyakantha.
Contact Us
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Suriyakantha Centre for Art & Culture
Naranwala
Handessa 20480
SRI LANKA
📞 Tel.: +94 812-315-544
📱 WhatsApp (text preferred): +94 71 362 3110
📧 E-Mail: info@suriyakantha.org
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Share your experience!
Warm welcome from Mr. Soulié, who shares with you an exceptional moment and a delicious meal in his beautifully restored house. Magical! My best memory of Sri Lanka!
The meeting with the owner and his desire to share is a delight in itself. Stay for lunch and your experience will be complete. The typically Sri Lankan meal is excellent, and the staff is very attentive.
Just a few minutes from the center of Kandy, on the famous "temple route", this place is ideal for escaping the bustle of the city [...] The meal [served] in the inner courtyard, in a calming and rejuvenating setting, is unforgettable.
A big thank you to Jacques for exceeptionally accepting to give us a tour without prior reservation of this beautiful house filled with history and various personal collections. We highly recommend this visit. Patrick and Joëlle, from Brittany...