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CIDA alleges forceful eviction by Tower Hall Foundation
View(s):By Chrishanthi Christopher Â
The Construction Industry Development Authority (CIDA), the apex regulatory organisation in the Construction industry said the Tower Hall Theatre Foundation (THTF) is trying to forcefully move its (CIDA) head office to ‘Sausiripaya’, Battaramulla, by refusing to extend its lease.
CIDA Engineer S. Amarasekera said that, despite several requests made to the THTF, it has not agreed to extend the lease.
The CIDA office at Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7, is situated on THTF land for the last 30 years, and the agreement expired on May 14, 2016.
THTF in response said they are short of space and need the building for their activities.  THTF Director Administration, Lal Ratnaweera said they have got only 4,500 sq.ft. of office space, whereas the CIDA occupies 34,000 sq.ft. He said the THTF has no grudge with CIDA but, needs the building to accommodate its growing staff and for its other welfare activities. “We need space to fulfil the objectives of the THTF Act No. 01 of 1978.
“We have around 70 staff and a drama school with around 70 members,” he said.  The building housing CIDA was built with World Bank assistance when President Ranasinghe Premadasa was the Minister of Housing and Construction, and also overlooking the THTF. He had then allowed both the CIDA and the THTF to be housed in the same premises.
Mr Ratnaweera said a nominal sum had been charged as rent and set off from the cost spent on constructing the building. He said with the lease expiring, all dues have been settled.  CIDA, however, said it had attended to all repairs, renovations and maintenance of the building during its 30-year occupancy.
Mr Amarasekera argues that, CIDA, as the apex regulatory organisation in the Construction industry that regulates and standardises the industry, contributes 10% of the GDP. He conceded that moving its office to Pellawatta in Battaramulla, will inconvenience its some 5,000 registered members.
It is learnt that subject Minister Sajith Premadasa has presented a Cabinet memo seeking an extension of another 30 years, which is under discussion.