OPENING OF NEW WPC OFFICE COMPLEX IN BATTARAMULLA

According to an article by Mr. Susil Munasinghe the first Chief Minister of the Western Provincial Council which was established in 1988. Meetings of the council was held at Mahaweli Centre – Colombo 07 since there was no building to call their own during that period. Offices located in various places in Colombo obtained on rent caused various difficulties to council members, officers and general public. He further states that all attempts by board of ministers to construct an office complex failed due to the atmosphere that prevailed in the country during that period.

Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumarathunga who became the chief minister of the second provincial council established in 1993, entered national politics after a short spell and Mr. Morris Rajapaksha succeeded her. He too tried to find a suitable location to construct an office building for

The building consists of basement, ground floor and fourteen upper floors complete with various ultra modern facilitiesspecially a meeting hall equal to the Sri Lanka Parliament

the provincial council and selected a land on Kirimandala Mawatha, Narahenpita, but this land was allocated for another establishment, this did not deter him in finding a location and he continued his ambition. Later with the assistance of Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumarathunga, the President of Sri Lanka a location on Lake Drive Rajagiriya was selected. Unfortunately this too became the site for an international school.

When Mr. Reginold Cooray was in office as chief minister a marshy land at No.204, Denzil Kobbekaduwa Avenue, Battaramulla was acquired for this purpose with the assistance of the then President Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumarathunga. This resulted in the construction of three storeyed building with funds from the Western Provincial Council after 15 long years and on 02nd November, 2003 the Western Provincial Council proudly held its first meeting in their own building.

There were lengthy discussions regarding the continuation of other offices, departments of provincial council in various locations in Colombo District. When Mr. Prasanna Ranathunga became the chief minister with the guidance of board of ministers, members of council and president of council the construction of new office complex of the Western Province Council initiated to bring all sections under one roof in 2014.

This building consists of basement, ground floor and fourteen upper floors complete with various ultra modern facilities, especially a meeting hall equal to the Sri Lanka Parliament. The current Chief Minister Isura Dewapriya designed this meeting hall depicting the majesty and beauty of our ancient kings. In this regard the advice and guidance of intellectuals and professors of architecture obtained to design it according to historical architecture of Kotte Kingdom, Sethawaka, Raigama Koralaya, Sath Koralaya, Sathara Koralaya and Pasdun Koralaya. The present board of ministers, members of council and officials with their personal supervision contributed towards speedy completion of this complex facilitating all services from the provincial council to the public under one roof. The complex is equipped with complete air conditioning system, fire protection systems, security cameras, public address systems, electric escalator, power generators, vehicle parks, banks, shops, restaurants and a library.