Propertyguruasia Awards 2019 eligibility period extended until August

The road to gold for Sri Lanka’s finest real estate developers has been extended until the end of August 2019, allowing companies more time to submit their entries for the prestigious real estate honours organised by Propertyguru, Asia’s leading property technology company.

Recognising the year’s most outstanding developers, projects and design, the 3rd Annual Propertyguru Asia Property Awards (Sri Lanka) will accept nominations from the public until 23 August, and eligible entries must be submitted by authorised representatives of developers until 30 August. Online submissions for the Sri Lanka competition are being accepted at www. Asiapropertyawards.com.

The change of dates allows shortlisted developers from Sri Lanka to join the glittering Grand Final gala dinner and presentation ceremony of the Propertyguru Asia Property Awards, which takes place in Bangkok, Thailand on November 22. The finale is a collocated event of the twoday Propertyguru Asia Real Estate Summit, a platform for innovators in property technology.

Ahead of the Sri Lanka competition, developers and senior industry figures in Sri Lanka will have a chance to gather at the Propertyguru Leaders Luncheon in Colombo in late June to discuss the resilience of the country’s real estate sector amidst all the challenges and hurdles to overcome, such as this year’s Easter Sunday tragedy that struck the nation.

The organisers of the Propertyguru Leaders Luncheon and the Asia Property Awards have also named Dr. Jagath Munasinghe, Chairman of the Urban Development Authority, and Directorgeneral of the National Physical Planning Department, as the 2019 Real Estate Personality of the Year recipient in Sri Lanka.

The prestigious award, which is chosen by the editors of Propertyguru Property Report magazine, is presented to the UDA chair for his efforts in providing support for low-income housing and infrastructure projects, monitoring and halting illegal construction sites, and formulating the ’National Physical Plan 2050’, which was recently approved by Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena. “The potential and talent of Sri Lanka’s real estate professionalsalign with the best of the world. We need to use every opportunity available, such as the Propertyguru Asia Property Awards, to showcase this to a global audience. We have produced world-class brands, products and solutions. Moving forward we need to do much more with greater vigour and commitment, pushing forward the spirit of collaboration, and more importantly,a united stand as a country,” said Dr. Nirmal de Silva, Director and CEO of Paramount Realty, the chairperson of the independent judging panel.

This year’sesteemed panel of judges also include respected figures in the sector, namely Stephanie Balendra, co-founder of SB Realtors (Private) Limited and Homesnspaces (Private) Limited; Prof. Chitra Weddikkara, president of the Women In-construction Forum Sri Lanka Chapter; Roshan Madawela, founding director of the Research Intelligence Unit (RIU); Natalie Pendigrast, founder of Pendi (Pvt) Ltd;and Nilesh De Silva, chartered architect and director of Kahawita De Silva & Associates (Pvt) Ltd.