I built a “City within a City” for the City of Kandy

Kandy City Centre, Chairman, Thusitha Wijayasena :

You are the founder of the ‘Kandy City Centre.’ Can you tell our readers about yourself?

I am a proud Sinhalese who loves Mother Lanka. I am a simple, unpretentious person living with both feet on the ground. In my life, there is a vision that goes beyond profits and expectations. I am endeavouring to make that vision a reality.

- Is that why you built a massive shopping complex putting Majestic City and Liberty Plaza to shame for the City of Kandy?

The Kandy City Centre (KCC) is second in size only to the World Trade Centre (WTC) in Colombo. But, KCC isn’t just a commercial building. I built a City, to which people flock. It has become a social and cultural hub. Kandy which was turning into a ‘Dead City’ took on a new lease of life with the construction of the Kandy City Centre.

- Tell us how your vision operates through the Kandy City Centre?

I added quality and upliftment to the lives of the people of Kandy. The Kandy City Centre became a platform for them to lead better lives… run their businesses with pride… to look at life positively. The small-time entrepreneur who walked in at the inception has upgraded his life to the extent that now he comes to his place of business in a car. There are people who had built themselves up by the sales exhibitions in our exhibition hall. Their lives are uplifted by just creating a market where they thrive.

- Can just a shopping complex awaken a sleeping city?

Master Plan – I Stage

Master Plan – II Stage

City Centre is just one tenth of our Kandy Master Plan envisioned in the year 1994. When the Government expressed the need of a Development Plan for the City of Kandy, we also bid for that tender. All in all, there were eight bidders. Out of the bids received, our Master Plan, a mix of modern architecture and culture planned on my concept by internationally renowned Architects, Ashley De Vos and Chandra Abeysinghe, was in the forefront. That Master Plan was approved by a committee of 55 professionals and authorities consisting of the two Chief Prelates of the Malwathu and the Asgiri Chapters and world-renowned Architect Geoffrey Bawa. Our Master Plan was also given Cabinet approval. But, we were given permission to initiate only two projects – the commercial complex, Kandy City Centre and the Car Park.

- Why did it happen that way?

It happened that way because of the lack of knowledge of the people of Kandy and local authorities. They were against the idea of developing the Master Plan. They made a mess out of everything. Protests and marches were held. Black flags were lifted all over the Kandy City. The Asian Development Bank gave about Rs. 715 million to the City of Kandy on very convenient terms to construct a car park. Kandy, the second Capital of Sri Lanka, even today does not have a sewerage disposal system. After seeing the value and the viability of our Master Plan the Japan International Cooperation Agency JICA) wanted to present an urban sewerage disposal system to the City of Kandy in the year 1998. The people of Kandy protested against that also. JICA folded up their plans and left. The people of Kandy lost the opportunity of building an ultramodern city because of the unwise actions of some misguided individuals.

- How are those problems solved in a massive building such as the Kandy City Centre?

This project is 100% self-sufficient and environment-friendly. Here, we use ultramodern technology. We have our own water purification, generator for electricity and sewerage disposal systems. Those systems are not taking anything away from the environment of the earth. The Kandy City Centre provides sanitary facilities for over 200,000 people per day. Per day, 60,000 Gallons of pure water vapour are released to the environment by our air-conditioning system. Water is obtained from the Kandy Lake located under our building and purified and recycled.

- What are the other projects you were prevented from completing?

We had planned for several projects such as three cinema halls built on top of the car park, Amphitheater, 1000 pax capacity Conference Hall, Cable Car system from Hanthana to the Kandy City Centre and the flyover connecting the Kandy Railway Station, bus parking space for 400 buses to be built over the Kandy Railway Station, 150 Channeling Centers, 1000 business premises for pavement hawkers, a public fair, double decker bus service from 6.00 pm to 11.00 pm and a standard taxi service.

Proposed Double Decker bus service

Proposed Cable Car System

- Do you think that the economy of the pavement hawkers will be fast-tracked when they move to the place where you had planned for them to move?

The success of pavement hawkers’ stalls is tied up with the bus stand and the railway station. That is the greatest backing for the upliftment of their lives as well as the lives of the community.

- Who planned the Kandy City Centre?

Kandy City Centre was planned by two expert Architects who were involved in planning the City of Singapore, Chandra Abeysinghe and Ashley De Vos. They mixed a blend of the concept of ‘Culture and Modern’ to this building. That was exactly what I wanted. Six floors are joined to six main roads enabling vehicle access to all six floors. There is no other building with that facility anywhere in the world. The building can be easily vacated in any emergency situation. This is a landmark added to Kandy, the country and the world.

- How much time did it take for you to construct this building?

In the year 1998 we made plans to open the Kandy City Centre in the year 2004. But, during construction, we were forced to stop work 21 times because of the baseless proliferation of organizations and Authorities. Sometimes the work was halted by the Cultural Triangle… next time it will be the UNESCO, World Heritage Centre… if not, the Department of Irrigation. I had to comply with over 50 such organizations during the construction of this building. All of them, instead of helping, hampered us by placing obstacles on our path.

- If this building is so strong, why did you stop after constructing nine storeys?

The tradition of the Up Country of Sri Lanka is not constructing a building taller than the ‘Paththirippuwa’ of the Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa.) Can we break that tradition not even broken by the foreigners who once ruled our country? We finished the building 10 inches below the ‘Paththirippuwa.’Otherwise, the benefits and profits of a commercial building are in going up to higher number of floors. But, however, profits and benefits have to be abandoned when you are doing something with a vision.

- If those interruptions didn’t occur, people of Kandy would have got the Kandy City Centre much sooner?

`Do you like to hear what happened to me as a consequence of these delays in construction? By the year 2002, we had obtained loans to the value of Rs. 800 million from the Seylan Bank. Even though the construction of the building was finished by the year 2005, we were unable to start any business activities there because of the lack of an essential infrastructure facility in the Kandy City, a sewerage system. We had to pay approximately 600 million Rupees of interest to the Seylan Bank without even a cent of revenue.

- Didn’t having to pay such an amount set your businesses back?

I had to sell off the properties I had in Colombo 03 and 07, investments such as my power plants and the shares I had in the Colombo Stock Exchange in order to pull through. Not having a development bank in the country is the most tragic fate of Sri Lankan entrepreneurs. Though there were plenty of banks in the country, not a single bank gave me a development loan. Every country in the world has a development bank to develop the country. There is no National Policy on lending in our country’s banking sphere.

- Are you accusing the whole banking sphere of the country?

Yes. What our banks do mostly today is pawn brokering – that is giving loans retaining gold jewellery as security, promoting Credit Cards and vehicle leasing none of which actually assist in growing the economy. The main task of banks should be to create successful people and businesses. A country’s economy can only be uplifted through the upliftment of enterprises and industries. A bank should give a project loan and assist in making the project successful till it earns revenue to repay the loan. But, I had to sell off my assets to pay interest on my loan. But later, realizing the importance of the Project, Sampath Bank gave us a long-term loan and Commercial Bank, National Development Bank, Bank of Ceylon, People’s Bank and Hatton National Bank gave us short-term loans. I emphasize that State banks should specially assist the uplifting of productive local business enterprises.

- Whatever it is, now this is a commercial building earning revenue for the country. Are you happy with its success?

At present, in no country of the world are commercial buildings built conforming to the culture of the country. There is no special benefit in that. It is just a waste of money. But, the roof of the Kandy City Centre is roofed with clay tiles conforming to the culture of Senkadagala. Three hundred and twenty-five Jak trees that were growing in my Pallekelle Estate and posts and door and window frames of the whole building were made out of that timber. The Food Court is floored with mature ‘Kithul’ timber. Six thousand dead ‘Kithul’ trees were used for the whole floor area. There is no other timber stronger than mature ‘Kithul’ timber. I got this idea while thinking of the pestle at home. That makes me extremely happy.

- Why did you think of giving the look of a stone wall to a commercial building?

That is Kandy’s pride and culture. One granite block, used for the construction of the facade weighs 70 Kg. Those blocks were specially imported from China and have been fitted according to a special technique. After being exposed to the sun and the rain and being coated with lichens, one day it will take the visual of a parapet wall of a historic, impregnable Fortress. This reflects our past glory.

- How important is taking risks to the life of an entrepreneur?

I went into business when I was very young. My first import was a couple of ‘Canter’ trucks. Then, I gradually reached the level of importing vehicles in bulk, in consignments of 400 – 500 vehicles. I became a wholesale vehicle importer very quickly. An entrepreneur should always think in terms of whether to sell one Kilogramme of sugar, one sackful of sugar or a lorry-load of sugar. That is because profit is directly linked with risk. I was able to develop make my business grow as I was fearless in taking risks.

Proposed Cinema Complex

Coffee Outlet

- It looks like that you were lucky in the vehicle import business…?

Not just lucky. By the year 1995, I had purchased several valuable lands. In Colombo 07 I had purchased 29 Acres of extremely valuable land in small parcels in various places. Rather than buying and selling land, I wanted to keep them as savings. Other than those lands, I had a large extent of land near the Colombo Harbour, the lands that used to be owned by Rowlands Limited, and many other lands that belonged to various companies. The lands in Colombo and Kandy that belonged to Walkers Limited were mine by that time.

- You built the Kandy City Centre on the land in Kandy that used to belong to Walkers Limited?

Yes. On the land that used to belong to Walkers Limited and adjacent lands. In those days, the British constructed the Dalada Weediya broad enough for four horses to walk abreast. This is the only building with a balcony overlooking the road. Now the Walkers building in Kandy is a World Heritage Site. Everyone has to enter the Kandy City Centre through that World Heritage Site. You have to come to the Kandy City Centre to see people entering the modern world through over hundred years of history.

- Are you preserving that heritage?

I maintain that old building preserving its historical importance. Today we are watching the Dalada Perahara from the balcony used for the same purpose by British and other VIPs. We have to spend a lot of money to maintain the building in the same condition, even without any income generated by it. World Heritage Sites in other countries are maintained by the Governments of those countries or UNESCO. There is no such arrangement in our country.

- How was such a building planned on a site with hills, slopes and water bodies?

This site was the Bogambara Lake in the past. Two hundred and ninety five concrete piles 1 ½ meters broad had to be sunk and concrete filled to a depth of 55-95 meters under the ground level. Then, concrete had to be laid in the shape of a basin and the foundation was reinforced preserving the lake. This caused Rs. 4 – 5 billion to be buried in the ground by the year 2000.

- This may be the biggest victory you ever achieved in your life…

On the contrary, this is the biggest loss I have ever suffered in my life. I battled various sorts of difficulties for 20 years to build the Kandy City Centre. Even though this in the largest business venture in Sri Lanka belonging to a Sinhalese entrepreneur, the value of it was not felt by any Government past or present of this country. Not a single politician or a Government gave me a hand. When I ventured into this, contemporary mega-scale entrepreneurs laughed at me. They said I am mad. There was nothing but trouble from Government institutions.

- Is there no one who had given you a hand?

If I have to thank anyone, I have to thank Dr. Sarath Amunugama and the Board of Investments of Sri Lanka. Other than that, I don’t have to thank anyone regarding this project. People who strengthened my heart and mind in those dark days were my family members, religious leaders of Kandy including the two Chief Prelates of the Malwathu and the Asgiri Chapters, the Consultants whom I consulted on construction and a few organizations such as MAGA.

Food Court opening in the near future

Ice Cream Outlet

- Why do you say that building the Kandy City Centre was the biggest loss you suffered in your life?

I built this, battling various issues, losing my 29 Acres of land in Colombo that were worth billions of Rupees. I obtained bank loans for only five percent of the total investment. Is there a development bank in Sri Lanka encouraging investments to uplift the economy? Governments of those times are responsible for this situation. Governments should have policies to identify local entrepreneurs with vision.

- You are a well recognized businessman in this country. You can make suggestions to the Government…

I am ready to give my business acumen, knowledge, experience and ideas to this country any moment they are required. If anybody needs them, they can contact me. I proposed the past Governments to give a hand to development by establishing a development bank with the contribution of State banks and the participation of foreign banks and giving loans on convenient interest rates. I firmly believe that an immense transformation could be achieved through this. My idea is that the electricity tariff should be lowered offering concessions to the people and industrialists rather than lowering the price of fuel. If my idea was accepted and implemented, in would have been easy for us to increase our foreign reserves when the fuel price goes down in the world market, strengthen the Treasury and settle the loans obtained by the Petroleum Corporation thereby conveniently bridging the budget deficit. Furthermore, I am confident that we could have been able to enjoy long-term benefits by constructing the Kandy-Colombo Expressway, a long-term project contributing to the development of Sri Lanka, utilizing our own funds.

- Do you conduct your business through the head or the heart?

The Kandy City Centre is a part of the Kandy City’s pride. Just think of the condition of the people doing business at a place visited by millions of people, including thousands of foreign tourists every day.The Kandy City Centre has created direct and indirect employment for tens of thousands brightening their lives. Small and Medium Scale Entrepreneurs from village women who fry and sell hoppers to make a living are building up their lives through our trade spaces. That is what I wanted. Businesses conducted through the head, not the heart, make profits. It is true that I lost millions of Rupees in this venture. But, there are so many things inside this building to make me happy. I constructed a future for the people of Kandy. That was done through the heart.

- Do you remember the day you thought that all your sufferings were worth this?

With that thought in mind one section of the Kandy City Centre was opened in the month of December 2008. But the day became one of the most tragic days in my life. People, not only from the surrounding villages, but from the North and the East hired buses and came to see. They were not used to using escalators. A large number of people a day fell from the ‘running staircase’ and was wounded. Many people did not know about using dry toilets. Children fell downstairs. In the rush, children got separated from their parents. I had to hire teams of school leavers and keep them near the escalators to edify the people. We had to endure this torment for two years.

- How are you enjoying your life?

Even People who had started by selling ‘Thla Karali’ in trade exhibitions held at the Kandy City Centre have become successful business people in the present. Observing them makes me very happy. I produced the film ‘Aloko Udapadi’ largely for my self-satisfaction. I derive unlimited satisfaction and happiness from meritorious work carried out from the bottom of my heart. I had given back to the country the money I have earned from this country. Is there anything more to accomplish?

- Seen from that angle, you are a smart businessman…

No. I am only a man with a vision. A smart businessman never loses what he has.

If I did not build the Kandy City Centre, my properties would have remained intact. But, I will not be able to serve my nation and my country. How many people maintain their livelihoods through this building?

- If anybody told you that usually businessmen become rich by indulging in unscrupulous and corrupt practices…

Regarding me, that person will have to retract his statement. I arrived at this position through sheer effort, labour, dedication and suffering. I haven’t earned even five cents dishonestly. It is the person who always does good suffers the most. Even in a family, it is the person who has the most responsibility gets scolded the most. If I earned my money by unfair means I wouldn’t have had to suffer this much. I am a man who isn’t indebted to this country.

- What is the lesson that can be learnt by your life?

Entertainment /Play Zone

Mini Roller Coaster

The lesson is… Never give up! Whatever happens, don’t abandon the attempt till you reach your goal. My wife is from Kandy. She was very happy that I constructed this City Centre for Kandy. I started this project upon a request of the late Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter and underwent untold suffering for 20 years. But I never gave up my dream. That is most important.

- According to you, the time and energy of the people are being saved by the Kandy City Centre to the maximum…

For the labour and time of the people not to be wasted, their closest township should have all the facilities to cater to all their needs and requirements. The first floor of the Kandy City Centre Complex is a ‘Bank Street.’ Branches of most State and private sector banks are located on this floor. There is no other place like this in Sri Lanka. The business spaces of the Kandy City Centre are in great demand. But, I select the businesses suitable for those spaces with a methodical vision. I wanted to supply the facility of buying everything under one roof with quality and classification. Consumers that were travelling to Colombo for all their requirements are now fulfilling many of their needs through the Kandy City Centre. If I get the opportunity of completing my Master Pan, the people of Kandy will not have to run here and there.

The businessmen conducting their businesses belong to various ethnic groups. All of them are having a strong bond. In times of religious and National Festivals all of them get together and celebrate. As a Sinhala Buddhist, I have shown a good precedence of getting together the ethnic groups of Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims to Sri Lanka. Furthermore, I am highly thankful to the Chairmen and Managers of all business enterprises that have started their businesses at the Kandy City Centre for coming here placing their confidence on us.

- The country is going through a period of renaissance. Now you can restart all your lapsed projects?

The government’s duty at this juncture is providing the opportunity for the local entrepreneurs who can, and are prepared to help uplift the country’s economy while inviting the overseas investors. I am the single Sinhalese businessman in Sri Lanka who built the biggest shopping centre in the country. If the Master Plan is revived according to the novel ideas I have, over 15,000 well-paid employment opportunities will be created in the City. When people go to far-flung areas for employment, what they earn is not enough for boarding fees and bus fare. People are too tired. Their leisure time is eaten up by travelling. Their productivity goes down. My objective is providing employment for the people living in the City in the City itself.

- Being a person who thinks a lot about the country, what kind of a father are you within your family?

As a father I have achieved victory. I have a son and a daughter. Their best friends are their mother and father. My son has finished his education in the United States of America and assisting me in my various businesses. My daughter is still studying in the United States of America. Both of them are Directors in this enterprise. This is our family business. There are no outside owners. I have a very loving and caring wife. She has the ability of bearing up any adversity with a smile. I educated my children well but didn’t addle their brains with thoughts of what they are going to inherit. Like their parents, they are also living with both feet on the ground.

- Seems like that you love your family very much…

I adore love in the family. I am the youngest brother of three older sisters. I am the small son born after 15 years after my youngest sister after my parents pledged to various religious places praying for a son. But, I lost both my father and mother within a very short period of time when I was just 11 years old. I was brought up by my elder sisters. I also like to experience the love and affection of a complete family. I am getting it from my wife and children.

- Do you remember what your parents gave for your life?

I was able to venture into business at a very young age because my parents left me houses and property. Having basic amenities in life is invaluable for a person. My sisters advised me “Don’t live in a rented house… Always honour your debts” as they learnt from our parents. I found my life on my own through the basic foundation I received from my parents. I didn’t think twice of making decisions and venturing into business on my own. I used my inborn acumen to the maximum.

- What school did you attend?

I attended Gurukula Vidyalaya, Kelaniya. I had better business acumen than passing examinations. By the time I was 16 years of age I got together with the Master of the tuition class I attended and bought it. When I felt like doing such things, I did them at once. By the time I finished my Ordinary Level Examination I wanted to achieve something.

- What was the turning point in your life?

Getting married at the age of 19. I got an excellent wife. My obstinacy was controlled very well through marriage. To tell the truth, my sisters got me married. The same way I did not have any problem in living when I was single, I did not have any job when got married. But, both of us were not afraid of that. We faced life together and, by the age of 22, I was a father.

- As you have started your life early, today you have the time to rest…

Yes, I have. It was because I started in my youth that I was able to accomplish all this. Still my mind and body are both strong. Accordingly, other than rest, I have the will to work.

In my institution there is an efficient, courteous staff including an effective Management Team. They are a source of strength to my journey.

- What is left for you to accomplish?

The City of Kandy needs cable cars running from Hanthana to Kandy City Centre… also required are Double Decker buses running the whole night round… business premises should be constructed for pavement traders over the Kandy Railway Station… an Entertainment Park should be constructed in Hanthana… Kandy should be turned into a ‘Green City’ filled with greenery.

The Kandy City Centre should be a calm, tranquil resting place for the crowds who are coming to the Food Court and the Family Entertainment Zone that will be opened in just a few months.

Those are the projects left for me to initiate.

- Finally, have you got anything more to tell the country on behalf of the City of Kandy?

All the incidents of the past have been swallowed up by the sands of time.

If the Kandy Master Plan which was shelved, get revived and implemented and when the ten projects are completed, the employment opportunities will be immense, amounting to over 15000 direct and 10000 indirect employments.

Kandy City Centre’s Entertainment Zone and Restaurants will further generate over 2000 employment opportunities within the upcoming months.

Those projects have been halted before completion due to the misfortune of the City of Kandy or the nation.

I am inviting the Government, all National, Provincial and Municipal political authorities and all State and private sector institutions to join forces to make Kandy a ‘Green City.’ The benefits are not for me, but for the country.