Inauguration ceremony marks grand opening of Architect 2014

Saturday, 22 February 2014 09:52 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The inauguration ceremony of ‘Architect 2014,’ the 32nd Annual Session of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA), took place on 19 February, 2014 at the Main Assembly Hall of the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH). The red letter day was made doubly significant as President Mahinda Rajapaksa graced the occasion as the Chief Guest with other distinguished guests including Ministers, Members of the Parliament, Government officials, eminent speakers of the National Conference, members of SLIA, allied professionals and other invitees. The official theme of Architect 2014 is ‘Architecture Envisioning Futures’.

Delivering the welcome address Archt. Prof Chitra Weddikkara, President of SLIA, while thanking the President for bringing peace to the island which had suffered through civil strife, made the following comment on the current construction boom: “Many know that the yardstick or the barometer of any economy is the construction industry. How many tower cranes are in the horizon?” The distinguished gathering was also addressed by the President and High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in the UK Dr. Chris Nonis, while Archt. Prof. Alan Pert from Australia delivered the keynote address. The highlights of the event were Past President Archt. Mihindu Kirthiratne being felicitated for his extensive services to the profession by being conferred with the Gold Medal and Archt. Suranjith de Silva being inducted as an Honorary Fellow Member. The presentation of scrolls to the newly-elected members and the presentation of awards of excellence in the field of architecture

to members of SLIA were also conducted during the ceremony. The awards recognised exceptional design abilities, use of colour and honoured outstanding design in various categories of construction. In addition, product awards were presented to the best locally-manufactured items. This is an incentive to local entrepreneurs to improve quality as well as to innovate new locally-manufactured products. Additionally awards were made for the best designed newspaper supplement that had been published to mark the inauguration in Sinhala, Tamil and English. The unique factor of this event is that the SLIA awards contribute to the improvement of all stakeholders of the construction industry and also the event. Archt. Harsha Fernando, Senior Vice President of SLIA, made the concluding remarks in his vote of thanks while the Members’ Works and Trade Exhibition was ceremonially declared open soon after and will conclude on 23 February. The highlights of the Annual Sessions of 2014 are the Members’ Works and Trade Exhibition, the National Conference on Architecture, the Annual General Meeting and the grand finale — the Fellowship Nite. Architect 2014 is organised by SLIA in partnership with strategic sponsor Phoenix FlowGuard, principal sponsor Alumex Ltd., associate sponsors Ranjanas Ceramic, True Value Products Ltd. and Orel Corporation and event sponsors ICC, Asian Paints, Multilac, Lankem Robbialac, Delmege Forsyth, Foster and Reed and Assalaarachchi Construction while the main media sponsors for the occasion are ITN and Lakhanda.