Date range: 1860 – 1880
Dawson’s tower on the background, which was erected in honour of captain Dawson, who pioneered the Colombo-Kandy road.
The British colonialist who designed & built the road, illustrious Captain W. F. Dawson of Royal Engineers is commemorated at Kadugannawa by means of a light house like white tower that soars 38m high into the sky from a rock where the railway line joins the road at Kadugannawa. The 110 wooden steps can be climbed, clinging to the central wooden column for support. An inscription in English at the base praises illustrious Captain Dawson ‘whose science & skill planned & executed this road & other works & public utility’. Hats off to Captain Dawson, sir.