‘Second Volume: The Watapuluwa Housing Scheme by Minnette De Silva’ -- the first research publication by the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA Sri Lanka) has just been released.
Focusing on this ground breaking project by architect Minnette De Silva (1918–1998), this book has been created to accompany the Museum’s current exhibition titled ‘88 Acres: The Watapuluwa Housing Scheme by Minnette De Silva’, which is on display until July 7. ‘Second Volume’ has been edited by Sharmini Pereira and Kaumadi Jayaweera.
A special component in ‘Second Volume’ is the transcript of the animated documentary ‘is this an architectural documentary?’ (2023) by artists Irushi Tennekoon, Sumedha Kelegama, and Sumudu Athukorala, which is currently on display in ‘88 Acres’.
Priced at Rs. 15,000, the book also includes an essay by Pereira on the Watapuluwa Housing Scheme, and measured drawings of De Silva’s house typologies for the scheme, created by architects Kelegama and Athukorala. ‘Second Volume’ also contains a special supplement of De Silva’s seminal essay ‘Experiments in Modern Regional Architecture in Ceylon 1950 to 1960’ (1965–1966), first published by the Ceylon Institute of Architects.
The book is available for purchase at the MMCA Sri Lanka located on the ground floor of Crescat Boulevard, Colombo 3, and through their website as well as Instagram and Facebook pages.
I still remember the day of August 1947 floods, as it was the last school day at Kingswood College Kandy and the height the water soured. Water rose to the height of the Cross of the Chrurch at Getambe and the water was so high that it engulfed the Getambe Rajaponawarma Temple leaving only a few leaves of the Bo-tree visible.
The Colombo Additional Magistrate has ordered the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to investigate and submit a report over a complaint about the alleged illegal assets gained by model Piumi Hansamali.
Heritage properties are major tourist attractions world over. Sri Lanka is no exception in this matter. From Colombo, Galle, most of the mountain cities including Nuwara Eliya, Bandarawela, Hatton and Kandy and in the North, hundreds of heritage properties are spread across.
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