Facelift for John de Silva Theatre, Art Gallery

The government will renovate the National Art Gallery and the John de Silva Memorial Theatre under the Mahinda Chinthana Future vision programme, a media release from the Culture and the Arts Ministry said.

Renovation work will commence next month.

The Treasury allocated Rs 328 million for the project which will be jointly carried out by the Culture and the Arts Ministry and the Cultural Affairs Department.

The stage of John de Silva Theatre is badly in need of repairs. The lighting and sound systems need to overhauled while the screens need to be replaced. The ministry found that plays cannot be held at the theatre on rainy days while it is too warm on other days due to the non-availability of an air condition system.

The Cultural Affairs Department decided to renovate John de Silva Theatre with immediate effect. The ministry has also drawn up plans to construct a special wing to preserve drama equipment together with an office complex, a cafeteria and a vehicle park at the John de Silva Theatre premises.

A new exhibition hall will also be built to preserve paintings and sculpture.