Architect 2009 concludes

The Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA) concluded its 27th annual sessions “ Architect 2009”, which was held at the BMICH March 3 to 8.

The key highlight of the annual sessions was the taking over the chain of office by Architect Chandana Edirisuriya as the new President of the SLIA at the Annual General Meeting.

He takes over the reigns of the Institute from Architect Jayantha Perera, the immediate past president of SLIA and the new chairman of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation of Architects (SAARCH).

The Architect 2009 Trade Fair and Exhibition was an unprecedented success. A cross section of visitors visited the exhibition, where over 300 stalls showcased a wide range of the latest products and services in the market. The career guidance centre was also a large attraction, with prospective students visiting to get further information on what architecture as a career entails.

The Architect 2009 Fellowship Night was held on March 7, with the participation of the distinguished architectural fraternity.

The national conference, under the theme of ‘Doing more with less,’ was held on March 5 with Honourable Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources as the Chief Guest.

The key note speaker at the event was the internationally renowned Architect Karan Grover, who was the first architect to design a Platinum rated green building outside the United States.

The conference was enlivened by a host of internationally acclaimed guests speakers which included Engineer Mario Seneviratne, Current Secretary General of the World Green Building Council and Architect Indika Samarasinghe who designed the first Platinum rated renovation of a building outside the United States for Brandix in Sri Lanka.

The focus of their presentations was the significance of further encouraging the development of the green building initiative in Sri Lanka. The inauguration ceremony of the Architect 2009 Trade Exhibition was held on March 4. Professor Mohan Munasinghe who was the Vice Chairman of the United Nations Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) when it shared the noble peace price in 2007, was the key note speaker.

His presentation on Climate Change and Sustainable Development was widely anticipated and well received by those that attended the ceremony. In addition, the newly elected members of the SLIA were presented with their scrolls at the Annual Awards Ceremony at the inauguration.

Vidyajyothi Architect Ashley De Vos, Architect Prof. Lal Balasuriya and Architect Ole B Larsen were also honored for their lifetime contribution to the field of architecture.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Ministers Dinesh Gunawardana, Rajitha Senarathana and Ferial Ashroff as guests of honors.