Presidential Square project at Fort stayed

By Shelani Perera

The proposed Presidential Square project under which several private and commercial buildings in and around the Colombo Fort area were due to be acquired has been officially halted following objections from the commercial sector in the area.

An extraordinary Gazette notification by President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been issued cancelling an earlier order to acquire more than 30 buildings including some of them with high architectural and property value.

The Sunday Times reported in December 2006 of the suspension of the project

Under the Presidential Square project a museum was also to be set up in the area in addition to housing some of the important ministries.

Among the objections raised by private sector entrepreneurs was that it would adversely affect their business activities. The initial proposal for the project was made by former President Ranasinghe Premadasa but last year President Rajapaksa issued a Gazette notification to acquire the land and buildings to go ahead with the project.

Urban Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told The Sunday Times that the Presidential Square project was not a ‘priority project’ and therefore had been cancelled.

“The decision was taken after we looked into several issues, pertaining to the private and commercial sector in the area. There are buildings which date back one hundred years. Acquiring such land is also a problem. There are buildings with historical and archaeological value which should remain in their original form. Thus we no longer can acquire and take over commercial and private buildings for the project”, he said.

The minister said construction of buildings in Battaramulla which are underway to house State buildings is scheduled to be completed by next year.

“Sethsiripaya will have a second and third stage, while several secretariats will be constructed around the Parliament Complex. Certain institutions which we think need to be in the vicinity of the City will be shifted to Colombo.

President’s House will remain and will not be shifted immediately, though eventually it will be shifted as land for the President’s House is available in Kotte”, he said.