|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 19 December 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
A new Courts Complex for Kandy Gratien A. Peiris, Chairman State Engineering Corporation of Sri Lanka The hill capital of Sri Lanka will certainly have an occasion to celebrate when the newly constructed Kandy Courts Complex at Gatambe will be declared opened by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga on December 19, 2004.
During the time of the British, two other single storeyed buildings had been constructed which at present function as court houses. Subsequently, the adjoining two storeyed building which housed the Kachcheri had been converted to court houses when the Kachcheri was moved out of this premises. As such, for over a century the present location of the courts in Kandy had been in use. Apart from the existing buildings being very old and lacking in facilities, the presence of the courts at this location adds to the congestion of traffic in the city and is a serious concern for the security of the Dalada Maligawa. The decision to shift the Kandy courts to the new location in Gatambe was therefore taken in the late nineties and accordingly a strip of land which had been an abandoned paddy field located between the Meda Ela and Angampitiya Road was selected and developed. Designing this massive Courts Complex, which is perhaps only second to the Superior Courts Complex in Colombo, on a narrow strip of land was an enormous architectural and engineering challenge. As much as ten court houses with modern facilities as well as amenities for the public had to be accommodated. Hierarchical order of court houses in terms of their relative positioning on different floors had to be ensured. Much emphasis had to be given to internal planning of the complex to generate different accesses for the judges, litigants and the public while enhancing security, reducing congestion and streamlining the flow of human traffic. Aspects related to the rituals of the courts and the functionality could not be compromised either. Public amenities and convenience was another important consideration. While the highway provided the access to the complex, the noise created by passing highway traffic and trains had to be considered. Kandyan architecture Another mandatory criterion was conformity to and incorporation of Kandyan Architecture in the design of this landmark building at the gateway to the Hill Capital. The challenge was formidable and was assigned to a team of experts at the State Engineering Corporation, lead by Mrs Dharshani Gamage who served as the Project Architect. The result is a masterpiece, standing tall and elegant against the back drop of the Bowala Kanda. This spacious 4 -5 storeyed building complex meets one and all of the above challenges. Even before it was fully constructed the emergence of a new icon for the Hill Capital was clearly evident. Now constructed, it passes with distinction all the tests - eminence, elegance, simplicity, functionality and architectural excellence. Remarkable change This magnificent complex has its ceremonial access from William Gopallawa Mawatha. The ceremonial access leads to the main entrance lobby of the building from where the public will be directed to the relevant court houses. The building complex houses under one roof an Appeal Court, two High Courts, three District Courts, Magistrate Courts, additional Magistrate Courts, a Primary Court and a Labour Tribunal. It provides up-to-date modern production and record keeping facilities for the courts, a lawyers' lounge with library, a canteen and kitchen for the staff as well as the public. A bank and a post office for the convenience of the public are also located within the complex. A wheel chair access for the needy together with adequate seating accommodation and toilet facilities have also been provided to ensure the comfort of the users. Therefore, it will certainly be a remarkable and welcome change for the legal profession as well as the general public of Kandy once the courts are relocated at the newly constructed building at Gatambe. In keeping with the intentions of the Kandy Heritage Committee and the Urban Development Authority, further developments along William Gopallawa Mawatha have been planned. These include a lawyers office complex and traffic and transport nodes with parking facilities in the vicinity to accommodate and cater to the large numbers who will come to the courts daily. Sincere gratitude Kandy Courts Complex at Gatambe was designed and constructed by the State Engineering Corporation of Sri Lanka under the patronage of the Ministry of Justice and Judicial Reforms. Project Management services were provided by the Urban Development Authority while a team of architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, other professionals and the workmen of the SEC contributed their mite to make this magnificent edifice of art and science a reality. We record our sincere gratitude to the officials of the Ministry of Justice and Judicial Reforms for their inputs, excellent support and co-operation throughout the project without which the happy conclusion of the project would not have been feasible. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
The existence of a Court House in Kandy dates back to the period of the
Kandyan Kingdom when the Magul Maduwa, which is existing to this day
adjoining the Dalada Maligawa, was used by the Kings to resolve disputes.
