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Tracy
Tracy
Sep 10 2026
8George Steuart & Company’s Annual Founder’s Day Service was held on 14 August 2026 at St. Peter’s Church, Colombo Fort, marking the 191st year of Sri Lanka’s oldest mercantile establishment. The Church’s association with George Steuart & Company dates back to its founding years, with Captain James Steuart and George Steuart, together with their families, maintaining close ties with the Church. Commemorative plaques honouring their families remain displayed within the Church to this day.
Photography: Ayesh Danushka for Pulse
The service was conducted by Rev. Jayanath Pandithararatne, Vicar of St. Peter’s Church, and was attended by His Excellency Andrew Patrick, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, and His Excellency David Pine, New Zealand High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, together with the leaders and colleagues of the George Steuart Group, invited guests and well-wishers. The service also featured the Music Ministry Choir, accompanied by Neranjan de Silva and featuring Rohan de Lanerolle.
This year, while continuing its longstanding commitment to St. Peter’s Church, George Steuart & Company has joined hands with the De Lanerolle Brothers in supporting the restoration project. The collaboration seeks to create greater awareness and encourage like-minded individuals and corporate organisations to join the effort to restore the Church to its former glory.
St. Peter’s Church is one of the oldest continuously functioning churches in Sri Lanka, having served as a place of worship for over two centuries, while its history extends across nearly four centuries. As part of the wider restoration initiative, a document has been developed to capture the legacy of the Church and its connection to the period of British influence in Ceylon, with historian Harin Amirthanathan undertaking the research for the project. Steps are now being taken to work closely with the Church on a clear roadmap for the restoration, identifying the work ahead and setting out the next steps for the project.
The initiative reflects George Steuart’s belief in purpose beyond profit and a responsibility that extends beyond the Group itself. Together with the De Lanerolle Brothers and the wider community of supporters the initiative seeks to bring together, the Group hopes to contribute towards preserving St. Peter’s Church as an enduring part of Sri Lanka’s heritage for generations to come.
