Minister of Urban Development and Housing Prasanna Ranatunga has directed the Urban Development Authority (UDA) to handover the administration of the Viharamahadevi (VMD) Park (formerly Victoria Park) in Colombo to the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC).
The Viharamahadevi Park is a public park located next to the National Museum in the heart of Colombo. It is the oldest and largest park in Colombo. Situated in front of the colonial-era Town Hall building, the park is named after Queen Viharamahadevi, the mother of King Dutugamunu.
The park was built on land donated to the Colombo city by Charles Henry de Soysa during the British rule of Sri Lanka, and used to be named Victoria Park after Queen Victoria. During World War II, it was occupied by the British Army, with the Royal Australian Army's 17th Brigade based at Victoria Park. After the war, the park was restored and opened to the public in 1951. The park is also the site of a memorial for those who died fighting for England and the empire (the Commonwealth) during both world wars.