From Governor's Residence to President's House: Being an account of the building formerly known as 'Queen's House', Colombo and of some of the personalities associated with it by Brendon Gooneratne is a lavishly illustrated and meticulously researched historical account of one of Sri Lanka’s most significant architectural landmarks.
 
Tracing the site’s origins to 1505, when the Portuguese first landed near what would later become the nucleus of the Colombo Fort, the book follows the evolution of the property through Portuguese, Dutch, and British rule. Documented history of the structure itself begins during the tenure of Johan Gerard van Angelbeek, the last Dutch Governor of the island of Zeilan, and continues through successive transformations that shaped the building into the grand residence it is today.
 
Richly illustrated with engravings, paintings, architectural drawings, historic plans, and rare photographs, the volume vividly captures the changing architectural character of the residence and its gardens. Beyond bricks and mortar, the book weaves in compelling accounts of the notable personalities who lived and worked within its walls, offering readers both architectural insight and human narrative. Commissioned following discussions during President J. R. Jayewardene’s 1978 Commonwealth visit to Sydney, this authoritative work remains an important contribution to Sri Lanka’s documented heritage.