Construction of NSBM Green University Town Commences
The National School of Business Management (NSBM) the nation’s premier degree school, commenced construction of South Asia’s first-ever ‘Green University Town’ in Pitipana, Homagama at a cost of Rs. 10.2 billion.
The construction contract of the project was handed over to MAGA Engineering ( pvt) Ltd at a ceremony held at the Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo, under the distinguished patronage of Hon. Dullas Alahapperuma, Minister of Youth Affairs and Skills Development.
The Green University Town will feature state-of-the-art lecture hall facilities, laboratories, libraries, modern auditoriums and cutting-edge tech labs, proffering the highest standards of education at its three faculties of Computing, Management and Engineering. The proposed NSBM University complex offers not only classroom facilities but also hostels, free study areas, cinemas, expansive walking and lounge areas, swimming pools, modern gymnasiums and a business unit to develop entrepreneurship making it a complete education and live-in facility bringing the university experience of 21st century to our doorstep. The NSBM Green university town spans 26 acres of land and will be completed in 2016, housing 30,000 local and international undergraduates
Minster Alahapperuma states, “The establishment of the Green University complex will be the turning point of higher education in Sri Lanka and a step closer to becoming the knowledge hub in the region, as envisaged in the Mahinda Chinthanaya. Sri Lanka is on the fast track to development, and the NSBM green university town will provide the necessary platform to develop human resource suiting its future. Modern education is about creating global graduates through innovative and experiential learning, and this government is proud to take the helm in delivering this change which would transform us into the ‘Wonder of Asia’. This will also contribute greatly to the national economy, with the growth of our knowledge base and foreign direct income earned via international students”.
Giving a new lease to higher education offered in Sri Lanka, NSBM was established under the statutory board of the National Institute of Business Management (NIBM) to become the foremost business school in the country. NSBM CEO, Dr. E. A. Weerasinghe, avers that the Green University Town will help promote Sri Lanka as an educational hub in the region. “Sri Lanka has amply demonstrated the strength of its education system with its highlyskilled and knowledgeable human resource base. However, despite the potency of our system, we have struggled to position ourselves amongst the top educational institutes in the world. NSBM are proud to be the catalyst in changing our futures and education potential. This growth and dynamism stems from the progress and development achieved through NIBM, and we are privileged to work together with some of the best talent in the education and construction spheres to deliver this ground breaking project. It is also a symbol of strength and the management vision of NSBM, which has delivered this project in a timely and effective manner.”
Sri Lanka’s most awarded constructor, Chairman of MAGA Engineering, M. G. Kularathne, states: “MAGA has forged for itself a legacy of quality, innovative constructions that have changed lives and landscapes and revolutionized the engineering and construction sphere in Sri Lanka. The NSBM Green University project is no different, as we employ and trial new technologies to develop this sustainable building. We view our efforts as a responsibility towards our nation and people. MAGA takes pleasure in being an integral part of the Green University project, and we would like to thank NSBM for placing its confidence on a Sri Lankan constructor such as MAGA to deliver this turnkey project.”
The construction contract was exchanged between the Chairman of MAGA Engineering (Pvt) Ltd and CEO of NSBM at the ceremony. Dr. Weerasinghe also signed the agreement with the General Manager of Bank of Ceylon for financing of the project.
Mr. K. A. Tilakaratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development, Additional Secretaries and the Heads of Departments of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Skills Development, Prof. Lakshman Jayathilake, Chairman of NIBM, Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navarathne, Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Heads of Departments and officials of the Urban Development Authority and the Road Development Authority, Mr. Ranjith Gunarathne, Managing Director of Engineering Constructions Limited, consultants for the NSBM University complex project were few guests of honour who graced the occasion.
NSBM is the degree school of the National Institute of Business Management, which functions under the purview of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development.