“Colombo to be transformed in to Heritage City”
As a part of the ongoing effort to convert Colombo into a heritage city, one of the most prestigious and colonial-style run entertainment venues, the ‘80 Club’ was restored and reopened on Friday under the purview of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) and it will now be managed by Waters Edge.
UDA Chairman Nimesh Herath said that with the lease agreement with the former management ending the UDA settled in and invested Rs. 411 million from their coffers to refurbish and open 80 Club, one of the icons of Colombo City.
“We have done a mega refurbishment to convert the Club to meet the present-day demands and have also opened it up for non-members to wine and dine at 80 Club. We have also retained the former employees who will now get better returns with more public patronising the club.”
He said that the UDA will now open the club for investors to take it on lease for a period starting from 30 years. “Also they would be offered nearly 40 perch of adjoining land where they could build a boutique hotel.”
Commenting on another iconic but underdeveloped heritage property, the 183-year-old Grand Oriental Hotel, he said that this would be developed similarly to 80 Club and investors would be sought for lease. GOH too went under an Rs. 250 million investment and is now managed by Waters Edge and a Singapore investor has expressed interest in taking this on lease.
“Similarly the nearby heritage property Gaffoor Building too is being renovated with the intention of it being transformed into a boutique hotel and leased out.”
He said during a recent survey done by UDA they have identified around 35 to 40 heritage properties that could be developed as potential tourist attractions that could be leased out to local and international investors. Under the master plan forwarded by a Singapore Company to convert Colombo into a heritage city colonial-era state-owned building dating back to the British Colonial period like the President’s House, part of Temple Trees building, President and Prime Minister’s offices are to be developed as mega tourist attractions.
“UDA is now looking for alternative land in the Sri Jayewardenepura-Kotte and Ratmalana area to relocate these places.”
Among the other properties and buildings identified to be converted as tourist attractions, conference facilities, clubhouses, restaurants and heritage hotels include Visumpaya, Foreign Ministry building, Air Force, Navy and Police, Headquarters and many other similar venues with rich heritage value.
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UDA to meet Krrish Square management
UDA Chairman Nimesh Herath said that they will meet the management of Indian based The Krrish Transworks Colombo (Pvt) Ltd next week to discuss the outcome of the premises occupying prime land in Colombo Fort.
A US$ 650 million Indian-developed Krrish Square has now come to a standstill with over 30 floors being constructed. “We will talk to the senior management and will discuss their plans.”
The proposed mixed development project is on a heritage site of 4.3 acres Transworks Building site in Fort. The project was first launched as a BOI venture in September 2012 but was stalled in March 2013 due to a controversy over payments due to the release of the land to the then Urban Development Authority.