Conservation work on Gnanodaya MV to begin soon
Conservation work on the two-storeyed ancient mansion belonging to
Gnanodaya Maha Vidyalaya, Kalutara is to begin on Tuesday, November 12,
at a ceremony headed by Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna
Ranatunga.
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Conservation work of the building will begin on Tuesday under
the auspices of WP Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga. In the
picture Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardana inspects the building.
Principal M.G. Mendis is also in the picture. |
Kalutara District MP Rohitha Abeygunawardana, the Highways, Ports and
Shipping Project Minister, who's on old boy came to the rescue, the
building was earmarked for demolition last year. Minister
Abeygunawardana intervened to safeguard the building along with an
organisation named 'Movement to Protect Gnanodya' and found money for
the conservation project which is estimated to cost over Rs. 11 million.
The building was the private residence of the school's Manager in the
early 20th Century, Sir Ukwatte Jayasundera, a renowned lawyer and the
first Gen. Secretary of the United National Party.
Later, in the 1950s, the building housed one of South Asia's earliest
Public Health Inspectors' Training Schools under British administration.
In the mid 1970s, Kalutara District MP Cholmondeley Gunawardena, a
stalwart of the Leftist movement, obtained the premises for Nanodaya MV.
The conservation work starting this week will be done by the Western
Provincial Council under the supervision of the Kalutara District
Government Agent U. D. C. Jayalal and the Department of Archaeology.
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