RIBA Members Sri Lanka inducts 14 new RIBA Intl. Chartered Members

• AGM and membership forum highlights quality of Sri Lankan design potential

By Darshana Abayasingha

Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Members Sri Lanka held its Annual General Meeting and Membership Forum 2020 at the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo last weekend. 

Chief Guest Italian Ambassador Rita Guiliana Mannella Giorgi

RIBA Members Sri Lanka Chairperson Nela De Zoysa

Guests of Honour Prof. Chitra Weddikkara

RIBA is the parental body of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects, which was established in 1834, and is the premier educational regulatory body and authority that accredits education architecture the world over. The University of Moratuwa, the City School of Architecture (CSA) and Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology are accredited by RIBA. 

On Saturday, 14 candidates from Sri Lanka who successfully received membership of RIBA, upon successful completion of the Virtual MeAP process – due to lockdown, were recognised by the Chapter. All 14 of them are products of the CSA. There are 17 new prospective candidates for RIBA accreditation from Colombo, it was revealed. Speaking at the event, RIBA Members Sri Lanka Chapter Chair Nela De Zoysa said the MeAP panel in London, headed by Professor David Gloucester, had congratulated RIBA Members of Sri Lanka for the very high standards these candidates had maintained. 

“I consider my initiation of the RIBA accreditation process, which commenced in 2009, as one of my greatest achievements. This process bore fruit in 2011, which was based on my cumbersome experience of becoming an RIBA member. I consider RIBA my gateway to the world. It opened doors to me to the American institute of Architects (AIA) and the Royal Australian Institute of Architects. I am glad to say I was able to bring a change to RIBA by reintroducing this fellowship, and I initiated the increase of international representation in the RIBA Council from two to four,” De Zoysa added. The RIBA Council has now members from the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Australasia. 

The RIBA Sri Lanka Chapter together with AIA are working on a virtual international conference on Women in Architecture and Design, which will take place from 17-21 November, featuring local and international architects and designers from UK, Pakistan, US, India, Mexico, Netherlands, Singapore and Sri Lanka. De Zoysa is also a member on the AIA Council and Country Representative for the AIA.

“We want to make this different to the dime-a-dozen webinars of architects talking with backgrounds of bookcases. Women in architecture and design would experience the works of architects after hearing of their experiential journey as to how they develop what they are. They would speak with their projects in the background. Each day shall feature the work of three speakers, and a moderator will take questions,” She stated. 

The Chief Guest at the event was the Italian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Rita Guiliana Mannella Giorgi, who said that the period of lockdown had underscored the importance of good architects when you have to stay at home or any single locations for months. The importance of a well-conceived living space or apartment was brought to the limelight at this time. “Italy is a big country in terms of economy, we are the fifth biggest manufacturer in the world. But we are the ‘soft super power’ because we love art. Architects have a big duty to make this country even more beautiful. In creativity in designing and constructing and also in the preservation of our old cultural heritage. I think in Sri Lanka the cultural heritage really adds value to the future development of tourism and other sectors. So please look at it well and conservation of old buildings,” she stated 

RIBA Past President Jane Duncan and RIBA Vice President – Membership Dr. Valeria Passetti also addressed the forum via video link. Duncan spoke of the challenges faced by architects and industry due to the global pandemic and identified that there are many new opportunities that will emerge out of the prevailing situation. She commended the efforts taken by the Sri Lankan chapter to innovate and engage the membership.

The RIBA Sri Lanka Chapter supports members in Sri Lanka with professional growth and service delivery along with its broader network in Asia and Australasia. The Chapter aims to support RIBA to advance architecture in Sri Lanka, promote engagement with its membership, facilitate knowledge exchange and conduct knowledge-based seminars for the membership. 

Pix by Ruwan Walpola

Felicitation of two Patrons of RIBA Members Sri Lanka by Chief Guest Italian Ambassador Rita Guiliana Mannella Giorgi and RIBA Members Sri Lanka Chairperson Nela De Zoysa

Archt. Chitra Weddikkara

Archt. Nimal Veranjan Kurukulasuriya

Felicitation of new RIBA International Chartered Members

RIBA Members Sri Lanka Chairperson Nela De Zoysa, Office bearers with committee members