WPC, in rare move, asks public to name new office complex
The Western Provincial Council (WPC), in a rare move, has asked the public to provide a suitable name for its 16 storeyed new office complex being constructed at Denzil Kobbekaduwa Mawatha in Pelawatte, Battramulla.
Normally large, new buildings are named after politicians or some other dignitary.
Deviating from the normal practice of consulting a literary scholar to propose a name for the building, the WPC has given an opportunity to the public to suggest a suitable name for the first time in Sri Lanka’s public sector, Chief Secretary of the Council Pradeep Yasaratne told the Business Times.
The WPC has published a newspaper advertisement requesting the public to send their proposed names depicting the identity of the WPC with facts on which the names had been suggested.
The proposed building name should provide clear location to to the public to ensure that they can locate it and services of the council. The entries should be sent to the Chief Secretary of the WPC by registered post on or before the January 30.
A suitable name from among the entries submitted will be selected by a panel of experts, he said adding that a cash prize of Rs.50,000 will be awarded to the winner.
Construction work of the proposed 16 storied office complex including the council chamber of the Western Province has been completed.
This is one of the largest building projects for a government institution in Sri Lanka devoted entirely to operations of the WPC.
Its architectural design and legacy will make the WPC building a national historic landmark and vital cultural centre, Mr. Yasaratne revealed.
The 16 storeyed office building with a semi basement and a council chamber with approximate floor area of 42,000 sq metres was built at cost of around Rs.3.96 billion.
The building complex also included an air conditioning system, CCTV, fire protection and detection system, audio conference system, MATV system, access control system, generator system, lighting protection and earthling system and sewer treatment plant in the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) package.