National Performing Arts Theatre:

Construction to be completed soon

Priyanka KURUGALA

Construction of the largest Performing Arts Centre in South Asia, the National Performing Arts Theatre at Normads Grounds would be completed soon. The Theatre will be opened for the public after the Sinhala and Hindu new year, Cultural and Arts Minister T B Ekanayake said. The Minister was on an observation tour of the construction site Tuesday.

The building is valued at Rs 3,080 million. Initially, the Chinese Government agreed to build 75 percent of the construction. The balance 25 percent had to be built by the Sri Lankan Government. However the Chinese Government agreed to complete the full construction, he said.

The 14,000 square metre building is being constructed in 2.17 hectares at the centre of the Normads Grounds.

It consists of a vehicle park with a capacity to park around 350 vehicles.

The centre has 1,288 seats.

It has facilities to perform three dramas at the same time.