Renovated CBD Business Centre in Fort ready for new tenants

Another office block has opened in Fort, the central business district in Sri Lanka, with, this time, the CBD Business Centre, set to welcome new tenants at the start of the new year following an extensive Rs. 609 million renovation by its owner Cargo Boat Development Company PLC (CBD).

The iconic 38-year-old building, is now ready for occupancy by companies looking for contemporary office spaces centrally located in Colombo’s business district at an affordable rent, the company announced after its recent opening.

Long-standing director of the CBD Company Merrill J. Fernando, Founder of Dilmah Tea, declared the building open in his position as chief guest at the official opening. Attendees gracing the event included other members of the CBD Board of Directors, including its Chairman Ravi Thambiayah, Deputy Chairman Nirmalie Thambiayah, Managing Director Niruja Thambiayah, Managing Director of ID Lanka Mohan Tissanayagam, Joint Managing Directors of Renuka Hotel and Renuka City Hotel Arnila Thambiayah and Shibani Thambiayah, Maya Jayawardena and Thiyagarajah Dharmarajah.

“This building was first built and opened by our chairman Ravi Thambiayah in 1982. It was the first UDA approved project in Fort and one of the first high rise buildings in Fort,” said Ms Niruja Thambiayah at the event. “ABN bank was the first tenant to sign a lease in April 1980, one and a half years before the building was even ready. Bankers Trust, Swiss Air, Julius & Creasy, the Central Bank, and other prestigious tenants including the Presidential Secretariat and Ministry of Defence were quick to follow.”

“This building was initially constructed in 1982 on the land which housed the offices of CBD’s original parent company – Cargo Boat Despatch Company, a Greek Shipping company (formed in 1866), which was acquired by my Grandfather Alfred Leo Thambiayah in 1939, which he grew into one of the leading shipping companies on the island, responsible for most of the functions of the port of Colombo at the time of nationalization of cargo operations in 1958.”

Located right opposite the Central Bank and within walking distance of the World Trade Centre and Port City, this flagship development of the CBD company (an associate company of the Renuka Hotels Group) currently houses a total of 54,400 sq. ft. of newly refurbished, modern, rentable office space, spread over 11 floors with panoramic views of Colombo city, Port City, Colombo harbour and ocean.