Propertyguru hosts Asia Property Awards first time in Sri Lanka
Propertyguru’s Asia Property Awards, commissioned in 2005, was held in Sri Lanka for the first time, to celebrate the local industry’s progress and potential, at the Shangri-la Hotel recently.
The ceremony saw the participation of over 350 attendees, along with dignitaries on the elite guest list, including Megapolis and Western Development Minister Champika Ranawaka.
“This offers a prestigious opportunity for the finest Sri Lankan developers to join the ranks of Asia Pacific region’s fastgrowing property sector, which will give our development the due recognition by customers in the region and the world,” the minister stated at during his address. “In recent years we have seen this country move on from its troubled past and create a dynamic environment for businesses and investors. To facilitate this, we are working continuously to improve and enhance the conducive ambience to the implementation of the megapolis master plan.”
The judging panel for the awards was led by Paramount Realty CEO Dr. Nirmal De Silva, along with JLL Sri Lanka Managing Director Steven Mayes, Homes N Spaces Lanka Properties (Pvt.) Ltd Director Stephanie Balendra, Qserve Pte Ltd Managing Director Prof. Chitra Weddikkra, Research Intelligence Unit Director and Founding CEO Roshan Madawela, Pendi (Pvt.) Ltd Founder and Director Natalie Pendigrast and Kahawati De Silva and Associations (Pvt.) Ltd Chartered Architect and Director Nilesh De Silva, while the supervising team was led by BDO Sri Lanka Managing Partner Sujeewa Rajapakse.
A total of 23 awards were presented to 13 outstanding real estate companies that received the industry’s highest honours, with main category winners advancing to the regional Propertyguru Asia Property Awards Grand in Bangkok, Thailand, in November, this year.
Propertyguru Asia Property Awards Founder and Managing Director Terry Blackburn said: “Following the successful inclusion of Sri Lanka in the awards at our grand final last year, we are delighted to be here in Colombo with what I am sure will be one of our most important annual events in the future. Clearly there is a long way to go before catching up with neighbouring markets in Southeast Asia, but the progress in the last five years or so has nevertheless been remarkable.”
“Developers have much to be proud of in how they are transforming the country and the lives of many Sri Lankan people,” he added.
Under the Developer Awards category, the top spot for Best Developer was grabbed by Prime Group. Best Boutique Developer was won by Capital Trust Residencies (Pvt.) Ltd, with Special Recognition in CSR won by Blue Ocean Group of Companies. The category concluded with Special Recognition in Sustainable Development being won by Maga Engineering (Pvt.) Ltd.
Under the Development Awards category, the Best Luxury Condo Development (Colombo) was Altair by Indocean Developers (Pvt.) Ltd, Best Mid End Condo Development (Colombo) was Capital Trust Residencies Thimbirigasyaya Road, Best Affordable Condo Development (Colombo) was Blue Ocean @ No.502, Havelock Road, Colombo 06, Best Housing Development (Colombo) was Ariyana Resort Apartments by Home Lands Skyline (Pvt.) Ltd, Best Condo Development (Southern) was South Coast Residencies by Walkers CML Properties (Pvt.) Ltd, best Condo Development (Central) was Dynasty Residence by GVR Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd, Best Office Development was Maga One by Maga Engineering (Pvt.) Ltd, Best Hotel Development was Mandarina Colombo by Macksons Properties and Best Mixed Use Development was Colombo City Centre by Colombo City Centre Partners (Pvt.) Ltd.
Under the Design Awards category, Best Luxury Condo Architectural Design was Altair by Indocean Developers (Pvt.) Ltd, Best Mid End Condo Architectural Design was Blue Ocean @ King Alfred Place, Colombo 03, Best Affordable Condo Architectural Design was Grace by Walkers CML Properties (Pvt.) Ltd, Best Condo Interior Design was Capitol Twinpeaks by Capitol Developers - Sanken Group and Best Housing Architectural Design was Ariyana Resort Apartments by Home Lands Skyline (Pvt.) Ltd.
The Special Awards category included Best Green Development which was won by Clearpoint Residencies, Rajagiriya, by Maga Engineering (Pvt.) Ltd and Milroy Perera Associations (Pvt.) Ltd, and Special Recognition for Public Facility which saw two winners; Implementation of Beira Lake Intervention Area Development Plan - Colombo Business Centre by the Megapolis and Western Development Ministry, and the Urban Regeneration Project by the Urban Development Authority.
In addition to these categories, under the Best of Sri Lanka Awards category, Best Condo Development (Sri Lanka) was Altair by Indocean Developers (Pvt.) Ltd and Best Housing Development (Sri Lanka) was Ariyana Resort Apartments by Home Lands Skyline (Pvt.) Ltd.
Exclusively, under the Publisher’s Choice category, the Sri Lankan Real Estate Personality of the Year was Pradeep Moraes, Director of Indocean Developers (Pvt.) Ltd and Chairman of the Condominium Developers Association of Sri Lanka.