President opens renovated Dutch Navy Commissioner’s Housing Complex
in Trincomalee
Refurbished building to be converted to Naval and
Maritime Museum:
President Mahinda Rajapaksa opened the renovated Dutch Navy
Commissioner’s Housing Complex in Trincomalee yesterday. This was once
the Dutch Naval Commissioner’s official bungalow. The opening was held
as a part of the 65th Independence Day celebrations in Trincomalee.
The 300 - year - old building was renovated on an initiative of
President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The total project cost Rs 75 million. The
Dutch government provided financial assistance under the Sri Lanka -
Netherlands Cultural Cooperation programme. The National Heritage
Ministry, Sri Lanka Archaeological Department, Sri Lanka Navy and the
Dutch government carried out the project as a joint venture.
The refurbished building will be converted to a Naval and Maritime
Museum at a cost of Rs 45 million this year.
The Museum will provide information on flora and fauna species in the
Trincomalee coastal area. It will also exhibit coral species collected
from Trincomalee and seashells found around the island.
The Dutch Navy Commissioner’s Housing Complex was used as the Dutch
Naval Commander’s official residence from 1602 to 1796. It was
transformed into the British Centre in Trincomalee. This later became
the Eastern University in Sri Lanka.
The three storied building was neglected and it was handed over to
the Navy by the Archaeological Department for renovation in 2007. The
President planted an ebony sapling tree to mark the event.
Minister Jagath Balasuriya, Deputy Minister Susantha Punchi Nilame,
Eastern Province governor Mohan Wijewickrama and Eastern Province Chief
Minister Abdul Najeed Majeed were also present. |
