Monument to Ban Svetislav Milosavljević

Svetislav Tisa Milosavljević, the first Ban of Vrbas Banovina, was the man who transformed Banja Luka from a sleepy provincial town into a modern administrative center. When Banja Luka became the capital of the newly formed Vrbas Banovina in 1929, Milosavljević took over its governance and immediately embarked on an ambitious program of renewal and construction.

In just four years of his tenure, the city experienced the greatest architectural boom in its history — the Ban's Administration, the Ban's Court, the Palace of the Republic, the Sokol House, Hotel Palas, City Park, and the Museum were all built. Born on September 7, 1882 in Niš, Milosavljević built a remarkable military career accompanied by numerous decorations, before moving into politics in 1927 and soon arriving in Banja Luka. He left the city in 1936, and as a token of gratitude and remembrance for his contribution, Banja Luka unveiled a monument to him in the city center on September 25, 2004.