British‑Sri Lankan Art Exhibition Showcases 19th‑Century Views of Ceylon

The George Keyt Foundation and the British High Commission in Colombo have opened the "19th Century Views of Ceylon" exhibition at Westminster House. The two‑day show, running on 31 July and 1 August 2026, brings together rare oil paintings, watercolours and aquatint lithographs created by British artists during the 19th century.

Works on display include early topographical studies by Henry Salt (1809) and Samuel Daniell (1808), as well as later atmospheric pieces by William Thomas Lyttleton, John Deschamps, Charles O’Brien and James Stephanoff. The collection illustrates how British artists documented the island’s landscapes, ecology and urban life as colonial influence expanded, offering a visual history of Ceylon’s transformation under British rule.