The Ministry of Law and Order and Southern Development has requested several agencies within Galle Fort to vacate their respective office spaces, by December 31, 2017 to fortify the living heritage status of the Galle Fort.
This measure is taken in accordance with Cabinet Paper No. 17/1759/702/002-XIX dated August 8, 2017.
In a letter addressed to the District Secretary of Galle, Ministry Secretary Jagath P Wijeweera requests assistance in finding appropriate alternative locations for the identified entities to relocate.
Accordingly these agencies include Magistrate’s Court, Magistrate’s House, All Saints’ College, Police In-service Training Institute, Police Residence, Galle Fort Police Office, Bank of Ceylon Office, E. Court’s Building, Southern Provincial Road Passenger Transport Authority, SIPNARA Building, Tea Small Holdings, Maritime Archaeological Unit, Port Authority Official Bungalow, Sri Lanka Telecom and Harbour Master’s Office.
“In order to maintain living heritage status, there are certain requirements to satisfy, which includes houses and facilities needed by occupants of these houses. However, Government offices are not a requirement,” said a highly placed source within the Southern Development Board.
He said the vacated buildings will be restored back to their original conditions as per archaeological guidelines saying that “Some of these Government buildings have undergone unauthorized construction, which will be removed,”
“Restored buildings will be converted into museums and boutique hotels and only the primary school of All Saints’ College which is housed within Galle Fort will be shifted once a suitable location is agreed upon,” the source said.
He said for a living heritage fort, a school is a requirement. However, this has to be a school attended by the majority of inhabitants of the Galle Fort and not outsiders.
The source said that the mechanism of vacating these buildings, shifting the offices and funding of the process is currently being discussed by the authorities.
Galle Fort was designated a living heritage fort by UNESCO in 1988.