Galle Fort post office transforms to a revenue generating venture
After carrying out postal services for hundreds of years since the early 18th century, the historic Galle Fort post office has been run down, a dusty labyrinth of rooms, damaged walls and collapsed roof spread out over the building.
The Galle Post Office. Pic courtesy tripadvisor.com
Now, this dilapidated building – originally constructed and used by the Dutch Administrator as his official quarters – is to undergo its most significant renovation under the present government’s plan to utilise it in a way to generate high revenue.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Management (CCEM) has directed the postal authorities to transfer the building to the Galle Heritage Foundation for proper maintenance as an immediate remedial measure.
Proposals will be called from prospective bidders to renovate the building preserving the ancient heritage where they should indicate a clear design plan in accordance with the guidance given for the restoration of the site based on historic reasons.
The proposal should include the space allocation for the resumption of postal services within the premises.
It should be guided by the conservation principles stipulated by UNESCO and the Galle Heritage Foundation, a senior official of the Postal Department told the Business Times.
However postal workers’ trade unions are protesting against the move claiming that the government’s plan is to sell it to the private sector to build a luxury hotel, a charge denied by the Postal Department senior official. He said the aim is to develop the city of Galle, renovate old buildings and use it in a way to bring high revenue.
This building had been renovated by the Archaeology Department in 1998 and thereafter by Central Cultural Fund in 2007 and again by the Postal Department in 2015/2016.
But these renovations were not carried out using proper conservation methods for old heritage buildings.
This has resulted in the deterioration of the historic building which was also maintained by the Indian Trading company during the British period and later expanded it to a commercial food stores for over 100 years. Conversion of old iconic state buildings into revenue generating hotels is the present trend worldwide, official sources said adding that a recent example for a similar endeavour was the post office hotel conversion recently to build the Trump International Hotel, Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington.