Orient Club


The Orient Club is a gentlemen's club in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

History

The club was established 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, established earlier in 1871, and denied membership to Europeans. Founding members included Frederick Dornhorst, James Peiris, 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. The Turrent Road building now forms part of Bishop's College, an Anglican all-girls school.