Reincarnation of unique heritage

Kandy City Centre:

by Asela Kuruluwansa and Indika Polkotuwa

Kandy City Centre, a new mega trade complex by an indigenous entrepreneur is a fabulous gift to the Hill Country. If it is called "the reincarnation of the unique Kandyan heritage" none would certainly dispute.

Still the relic of some buildings which represent the grandeur of the Kandyan era adorn the city. The British during their imperial days undid many of the vestiges of a bygone era to suite their tastes and interests.

Sandwiche between Sri Dalada Weediya and Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe Mawatha, the new nine-storeyed edifice," Kandy City Centre is sited at an attractive location. The nature's bountiful gifts such as Kandy Lake, Bahirawakanda and Hantanekanda have together added glamour to the structure.

The Property Finance and Investment proprietor, Thusitha Wijesena has already spent over Rs. 100 million for his brainchild. Veteran architect, Ashley De Vos together with Singapore's A.H.C. Architecture are the "masterminds" behind the building design.

The exterior totally resembles the age-old Kandyan architecture. The first and second floors to be used as a vehicle park could conveniently accommodate 800 vehicles.

The third floor fittingly called, "Bank Street" which exclusively houses all - State and private banks is the newest addition to a trade complex in Sri Lanka!

The fourth and fifth floors have been allocated for gems and jewellery, electronic and electrical appliances, and the textiles, garment etc. respectively.

The sixth floor is crowded with magnificent restaurants serving different food varieties, a children's playground whilst the seventh houses exhibitions for displaying traditional Kandyan artistic creations.

The state-of-the-art conference halls and beauty culture villas of international repute adorn the eighth and ninth floors.

To supplement the existing amenities the complex is fitted with fourteen escalators and five electric lifts, a separate sewerage plant at a cost of Rs. 100 million and an independent megawatt 3.2 electricity supply by generators and an expensive modern air-conditioning system.

In addition, a sophisticated security network, which is a prime need in today's context equipped with digital apparatus has also been installed.

Several more ultra-modern amenities are in the pipeline.

"A very rare features of the complex is the special access facility and toilets designed to cater to the disabled.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, it is said has directed the authorities to provide the necessary facilities to the massive BOI project without delay. Meanwhile, plans are afoot at present to have the trade complex opened well before March, 2009.

The project which adds lustre and pride to the ancient kingdom anticipates to provide 4,000 direct and 10,000 indirect employment opportunities to the people.

Investor, Wijesena however laments the red tape and bottlenecks that inordinately delayed his masterpiece for well over a decade.

According to him, the work started in 1993 at an estimated cost of Rs. 56 million dollars. At that time a dollar costs him only Rs. 38, he says. Today it is 113.

"Already I have spent over 80 million dollars and expect the final figure would be around 300 million dollars, the entrepreneur Wijesena says.

Translated by K.D.M. Kittanpahuwa