The Urban Development Authority (UDA) has planned to develop the area in and around Colombo and its suburbs as a National Heritage Area consisting of lands and buildings of historic value.
Urban Development Authority Chairman Nimesh Herath said that 35-40 lands and buildings with such value have been identified in Colombo and its suburbs.
The Chairman also said that the Urban Development Authority has planned to lease such land to investors on a long-term basis for development activities. He said that it is mandatory to develop those lands and buildings without causing any damage to antiquity.
The UDA Chairman expressed these views when he attended the opening of the “80 CLUB” located at Freedom Avenue, Colombo 7, to the public recently.
“Eighty Club” is one of the oldest clubs in Colombo. This club is known as “Eighty Club” due to the fact that a few members held their first meeting in Room No. 80 of the Queen’s Hotel, Kandy. Later, it was established at Freedom Avenue in Colombo 7.
After this was handed over to the Government in 2020, the Urban Development Authority with the support of the Sri Lanka Navy renovated it.
It was reopened in 2021 and now it has an elegant finish with the latest additions including new restaurants, meeting rooms and a private cinema room.
Herath further said the Urban Development Authority conducted a census of abandoned lands that could be developed in Colombo and the suburbs. We identified 35 to 40 lands and submitted a ministerial memorandum. The 80 Club premises is one of the Government-owned lands under the Divisional Secretary. This is a building of historic value and a proposal was submitted by the Project Division of the Urban Development Authority to develop it.
“The Urban Development Authority spent Rs. 411 million and modernised the 80 Club premises. When we submitted the Cabinet Memorandum for this, we were instructed to develop these and dispose of them for the benefit of the public. The Urban Development Authority identified these as investment lands and continued development. Due to COVID-19 and the economic crisis, this hotel was late to be opened for the public.
“The long-term plan of the Urban Development Authority is to sell it to a developer on a long-term lease basis to cover the cost we have spent. This is land owned by the Urban Development Authority. Everything including food and drinks is provided here by the Water’s Edge Hotel which is under the Urban Development Authority.
“In Sri Lanka, there are restaurants and hotels at each and every level. This is used as a high-end hotel. The prices may not be at a low level. This is open to the public. Any event can be held here. Many other buildings like this have been identified including Visumpaya, Ghafoor Building, Hotel Club Building and the GOH Building. Investors have been called for the development of Ghafoor Building.
“Based on the concept of the President, in consultation with the Minister of Urban Development and Housing Prasanna Ranatunga, it has been planned to develop the buildings as a National Heritage Zone. Urban Development and Housing Minister Ranatunga has been instructed to implement the Colombo Municipal Plan until 2048. Under the leadership of the Minister, we have had many rounds of negotiations. We hope to do it in a period of six months.”