The government expects to preserve the President’s House, the Presidential Secretariat, the Prime Minister’s official residence – Temple Trees, and Prime Minister’s Office on Flower Road in Colombo as tourist attractions under the ‘New Colombo Heritage City Plan’, it was reported.
According to the Sunday Times, under the plan, the current official President’s House and Secretariat, and the Prime Minister’s Residence and Office have been earmarked to be moved out to Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.
Urban Development Authority (UDA) Director General Prasad Ranaweera stated that the lookout for alternative land in the Sri Jaywardenapura-Kotte area has commenced in order to move the administrative complex to one location.
Ranaweera stated that the move is being considered under the directives of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and that following the identification of land necessary plans will be drawn for a phased shift of the buildings.
Under the ‘New Colombo Heritage City Plan’, a string of other buildings in Colombo city are also to be re-offered for lease to investors to be maintained as boutique hotels.
Accordingly, the General Post Office, the Foreign Ministry building, Police Headquarters, Air Force Headquarters, Navy Headquarters, Visumpaya, Shrvasthi (former MP’s hostel), the Gafoor building, the Irrigation Department building at Jawatte Road, the Welikada Prisons and the old Defence Ministry building at Galle Face have been identified to be leased out.
As per the plan, the buildings will be leased out for more than 30 years with concessionary terms on taxes, while the investors would be able to renovate the building while preserving its original identity.
Ranaweera further stated that the UDA also hopes to have a sheltered corridor between the Gafoor building and the Port City so that the people can use the passage.
He added that discussions have commenced with potential investors, including an investor from Georgia, in this regard. (NewsWire)