Annual sessions of Architect 2008

The Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA) marked its first annual sessions after celebrating the golden jubilee in September 2007 with Architect 2008, at the BMICH. The highlight of the session was the National Conference on Architecture, on February 21.

The theme for the conference was 'Architect the Initiator', with many interesting presentations by a host of eminent professionals in the field, as well as allied professions in Sri Lanka and abroad.

Following the inauguration of the event, an introductory session was held, where Architect Jayantha Perera, President of the SLIA delivered the welcome address followed by an address by Chief Guest Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Minister of Construction and Engineering Services and Guest of Honour Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Governor of the Central Bank. Architect Ulrick Plesner, Managing Partner, Plesner Architects, Israel, made the keynote presentation.

Architect Surath Wickramasinghe chaired and Architect Thilan Koththigoda co-chaired session one, which comprised presentations made by Vidyajyothi Architect Ashley de Vos, Principal Architect, ADV Consultants, and Rajeev Sethi, Chairman/Founder and Trustee of Asian Heritage Foundation, India.

Session two was chaired by Prof Chitra Wedikkara and co-chaired by Architect Hasitha Gunasekara. Award winning photographer and advisor, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Christopher Silva spoke on 'Our Origins and Our Heritage'. Architect D. H. Wijewardene spoke on 'Architect the Initiator' the Sri Lankan Dilemma.

He is a Principal Architect of D. H. Wijewardene Associates and the Honorary Treasurer of SLIA. The students of the University of Moratuwa also made a presentation. Vidyajyothi Architect Prof Lakshman Alwis was the Chairman while Architect Jayanath Silva was the Co-chair of session three.