The J.R. Jayewardene Centre is situated at 'Vaijayantha', 191, Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 07, originally the residence of Chief Justice E.W. Jayewardene. It has since become a depository for gifts that President J.R. Jayewardene had received as Head of State.

When J.R.Jayewardene became Head of Government and Head of State he made it a practice to store the gifts he received from State visitors or on State visits abroad in a special room at the President's house thus underlining the point that these were not personal to him but the property of the State. This simple gesture was the indirect expression of his principle of leaving everything he treasured, including his own house 'Braemar' at Ward Place, to the benefit and service of the public.