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Architects conference draws attention to Sri Lanka’s potential
View(s):By Yomal Senerath-Yapa
President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said that great opportunities and openings lie ahead for architects and Sri Lanka in general, including the the Surbana Jurong master plan and blueprints to expand the city of Kandy.
The President was addressing the inauguration of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Members’ Sri Lanka International Conference 2023, where he was Chief Guest.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing the conference
Held at the Cinnamon Grand, hosted by the RIBA Members’ Sri Lanka Chapter in collaboration with the American Institute of Architects International and the Italian Embassy of Sri Lanka, the theme of the conference was Architecture: A Lasting Impact.
President Wickremesinghe in his speech said that, with tourism being boosted, a range of opportunities will open up to ‘restore old buildings, build small boutique hotels, and bigger hotels in different parts of the country’.
He endorsed the idea of establishing low and middle income apartments in Colombo to ‘free’ large tracts of the capital city for construction.
The president also mentioned the Surbana Jurong master plan for Trincomalee which he said will bring in prosperity.
“They’ll also be working on a tourist zone from Verugal Aru down to Batticaloa and then again to Arugam Bay” he added.
An earlier plan with Japan, to extend the Kandy city up to Theldeniya, will be taken up soon, he said, probably extending even down towards Peradeniya or Thalathuoya.
“Also, Galle is looking to redo part of its sea frontage, and Nuwara Eliya will be redesigned.”
The President urged architects to ‘take up the challenge’, and also look for opportunities abroad as well while working on local projects with their counterparts from abroad.
Regarding climate change goals for 2050, the President added that Lankan architects can qualify in climate change – or ‘mitigation’ – architecture, ‘long before others’, given that one of the best examples in that area is the Kandalama Hotel by Geoffrey Bawa.
After sessions by 12 speakers the conference will draw to a close this (6) evening, having drawn together more than 400 architects and interested individuals from around the world.
Arrival of the Guests of Honour. Pix by M A Pushpa Kumara
Conference Chair, Architect Nela de Zoysa said: “This conference is the first of its stature in Sri Lanka, featuring 12 international architects from around the world, in an attempt to uplift the morale of Lankan architects and the construction industry, and the image of Sri Lanka in the eyes of the international community, thus boosting the economy of the country.”
The keynote address was by Thomas Vonier, President AIA 2018 + President UIA 2018 – 2021 Creator of AIA International who spoke on broadening architectural horizons.
Among the speakers over the two days are Yahaya Jan, Eva Jiricna, Nadia Tromp, Mohamedraza Ghodousi, Brinda Somaya, Christina Finucci, Ben Derbyshire, Duangrit Bunnag, Nicolas Medrano, Palinda Kannangara, Channa Daswatta, Kosala Weerasekara, Damith Premathilake and Malisha Kodituwakku.
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