Collecting cars, his passion

Hillman Minx convertible

Mercedes 180b and a Mercedes 220s

Kapila standing next to a 1947 standard flying eight convertible.

Hillman minx convertible, Austin Somerset, Riley one point five and Singer Gazette.

Mercedes 170s

No matter which part of the world you are in, the influence of the motor car is obvious. The car can be considered one of the greatest inventions in the history of mankind. Sri Lanka's motoring history dates back to 1905 when the first petrol car was imported. The motor car has been one of the single largest contributors of economic development of this country.

An impressive collection of vintage and classic motor cars and motor bikes are parked in Kapila Jayawardena's private museum in Battaramulla. An impressive quarter acre of motoring history representing the 'Golden era' of Sri Lankan motoring, this is the closest thing to a motor car museum in Sri Lanka, although this is not open to the public. For Kapila Jayawardena, Chief Executive Officer, LOLC collecting cars is more of a passion.

Kapila started his hobby in the eighties with his father being an owner Volkswagen beetle. A 1953 split glass model which is a highly collectible motor car today. He started picking up other vintage and classic vehicles and continued with his passion since then.

Motoring appears to run in the Jayawardena family.

A family photograph in Kapila's possession with his grandmother and father taken by Plate in 1920 has a vintage Ford which was owned by the Jayawardena's at that time parked in the background.

The older cars in the collection are particularly interesting and a reminder of how fast cars have developed in the past century. In his collection are many cars from various European manufacturers from the early twentieth century.

Older cars can be grouped more or less by the year they were made, such as with vintage and classic cars for instance, vintage cars are anything built before World war II.

A car built between WW2 and 1975 would be generally classed as being a Post Vintage or Classic Car.

The collection includes a 1957 Datsun with a unusual pastel green, the first japanese car to be imported to Sri Lanka, a large Mercedes 280S Saloon used by a former Prime Minister and a Daimler Saloon built in 1952 - the only car in Sri Lanka. A vintage Standard Flying Eight convertible in his possession was used by the commander of the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the second world war.

Other collections include a vast array of over half a dozen classic Mercedes on display from the swooping lines of the wine red 1952 170S to the powerful 5 litre 500SEC coupe which incidentally is the only 500SEC in Sri Lanka. The 1953 Volkswagen Beetle oval glass imported by the German embassy is another sought after collectors item. This is the only beetle with sideskirts (an optional extra at that time) in Sri Lanka. A beautiful red 1956 Hilman Minx series II convertible is one of only two cars imported to Sri Lanka.

The rarest type of Morris Minor, a 1950 model low light convertible is also part of this collection. Another rare car in the collection is a two door 1953 DKW Sonderklasse Coupe. DKW is the forerunner to the modern Audi.

The oldest car in his possession is a 1937 Austin big seven, an original black sedan with red upholstery looking as new as when it arrived in Ceylon in May 1937.

The motorcycle section has an array of rare bikes. A 1962 Honda dream, a 350cc 1948 BSA ZB31, a 500cc 1954 Triumph speed twin, a 1953 BSA C12, a 650cc Ural built in 1973 and a 500cc 1956 Ariel red hunter are a few of the prized exhibits. All cars are still operational, complete with original handbook, manual and brochure.

The walls of the premises are filled with vintage photographs of motoring in Ceylon from the 1920s , and rare and advertisements of cars which appeared in newspapers and magazines in the past. One exhibit of particular interest is a price list of all the motorcars and motor cycles imported to Sri Lanka in 1954.

A man with a tight schedule, Kapila is grateful to the set of mechanics who keep the collection in mint condition.

He is particularly thankful to the Ceylon Classic car club for helping classic car owners to pursue their interest.

Kapila feels that such fine specimen should be preserved for future generations at an age where most specimens of Sri Lanka's rich motoring history is being exported.