Daily News Online
   

Wednesday, 1 June 2011

Home

 | SHARE MARKET  | EXCHANGE RATE  | TRADING  | OTHER PUBLICATIONS   | ARCHIVES | 

dailynews
 ONLINE


OTHER PUBLICATIONS


OTHER LINKS

Marriage Proposals
Classified
Government Gazette

Newly restored Lloyd's Building opens for business today

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL)'s refurbished Lloyd's Building will be opened by Defence Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa at the invitation of Central Bank of Sri Lanka Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal today at No. 13, Sir Baron Jayatilleke Mawatha, Colombo 1.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka purchased this historic building in 2009 with the intention of meeting its growing space requirements due to expansion of activities in the recent years and took measures to renovate this building taking care to preserve its architectural value.

The newly restored Lloyd’s Building

This picturesque building, constructed in 1908 was originally named as 'Freudenberg Building' and subsequently the 'Lloyd's Building'. Designed by renowned Architect E Skinner and constructed by Clifford Lake and Company. This building signifies British architectural heritage of the late 19th century. The richly decorated conference room, elegant marble corridors, classical motifs, quaint woodwork and attractive exterior design of the building symbolize commercial heydays of early 20th century in Sri Lanka.

Initially, the main occupant of the building was Freudenberg and Co. and by 1917, several floors were leased out to Colombo Apothecaries Co. Ltd., Shanghai Life Insurance Co., Morrison and Bell, Standard Oil Company New York, C W Mackie and Co., Clark Young and Co., The Vacuum Oil Company and the Consul for the United States of America.

In 1933, the joint owners of the building, Walter Edward Moncrieff Peterson, Henry Seymour Jeaffreson, Basil Walter Cuthbert Leefe and Ian Woodford Aitkeen sold the building to Ceylon and General Properties Ltd. In 1950, the ownership was transferred to Badrawathie Fernando Estate Ltd. and then to United Ceylon Insurance Co. Ltd. in 1957.

The United Ceylon Insurance Co. Ltd. owned and managed the building as a business premises since 1957 till the Central Bank of Sri Lanka purchased it in 2009.

Located among the buildings which have been neglected for nearly 30 years without any major repairs due to several bomb blasts that took place in the Colombo city and brutal terrorist activities, the renovation of this building will now be able to signal the dawn of a new peaceful era, as well as make a significant contribution to the government's effort in making Colombo city one of the most attractive cities in Asia. This building has five storey and a basement floor consisting of over 30,000 sq. ft. office space. In the course of the renovation programme, the building added new elevators, modern electrical and communication system, fire alarm system and air conditioning system.

The Central Bank believes that the renovation of this classic building would encourage other building owners in the Colombo city to also take measures to renovate their buildings which will greatly enhance the appearance of the Colombo City. Further, the renovation of all important buildings of this nature will also serve as a major tourist attraction in the future.

 

EMAIL |   PRINTABLE VIEW | FEEDBACK

Kapruka
www.defence.lk
Donate Now | defence.lk
www.apiwenuwenapi.co.uk
LANKAPUVATH - National News Agency of Sri Lanka
www.army.lk
Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL)
www.news.lk

| News | Editorial | Business | Features | Political | Security | Sport | World | Letters | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House Copyright © 2011 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.

Comments and suggestions to : Web Editor