The Executive Council and the Legislative Council met in the building opposite the picturesque Gordon Gardens, now occupied by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, until the scene was shifted to the Parliament Building fronting the ocean at Galle Face.

This building, declared open on 29th January 1930 by Governor Sir Herbert Stanley, housed the Legislature till April 1982. Consequent to constitutional reforms, the name of the Legislature changed several times as follows : the Legislative Council , the State Council , the House of Represetative , the National State Assembly and the Parliament (1978-).

The increase in the membership and the consequent work-load of Parliament created an awareness of the need for a new Parliament Building with adequate accommodation and attendant facilities.

After the General Election of 1977 a decision was taken by the Government for the construction of a new House of Parliament at Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte. On 4th July, 1979 Parliamentary sanction was given to construct it.

Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte was in the 1st century the capital of the then most powerful of the several kingdoms of Sri Lanka.

The Administrative Capital of Sri Lanka since 1982 is Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte. The House of Parliament was shifted from Colombo, the previous capital, to a newly constructed building on a small island in the centre of "Diyawanna Oya", and ancient waterway in Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte. It was ceremonially declared open on 29th April 1982 at the auspicious hour of 10.28 a.m. by the then President, His Excellency Junius Richard Jayewardene. This is the third building erected to house the Legislature of the Island since it was set up in 1833.

Colombo is the Commercial Capital now.