OHC26: W A Silva Museum [Tour]

Take a tour of this Museum for Language, Literature and Typography as part of Open House Colombo 2026.

The W.A. Silva Museum is dedicated to nurturing the future of literature, languages, and visual culture in Sri Lanka. Housed in the historic residence of renowned Sinhala novelist W.A. Silva (1890–1957), the museum continues the writer’s legacy of fostering intellectual gatherings and cultural exchange.

After Silva’s passing, the house transitioned to the writer’s nephew, W.B.C. Senerath Nandedewa, followed by Most Venerable Wathawana Sirisumana Thero, a leading Buddhist priest. Both subsequent owners shared Silva’s vision to transform the residence into a space connected with language and literature.

Renovated in 2018 with the opening of the museum, the property now houses the Institute of Typography, traditional letterpress and woodtype displays, a co-working studio, and a garden for community gatherings. The building is also used as a collaborative workspace for Mooniak, a Sri Lankan typeface (font) design studio.

Participants will enjoy a guided tour of the museum, including a rare viewing of the first-edition covers of W. A. Silva’s celebrated works. The tour concludes with a live demonstration of the traditional letterpress, offering guests a hands-on glimpse into how the historic printing press operates and brings typography to life.

Address: 126, W.A. Silva Mawatha, Colombo 6

Google map link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/AWdTYnCPbQ6F89R76

Image courtesy W.A. Silva Museum