New hotel at Bogambara

A land area of 8.5 acres where Bogambara prison complex was earlier located will be used to construct a hotel, a leisure area, mini cinema, shopping complex and a stage for cultural and entertainment activities, the Urban Development Authority (UDA) said.

The UDA said the project was at the planning stages and the construction work is expected to begin in the first quarter of next year and would be completed in two years. The block of land was transferred by the prison authorities to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development.

Meanwhile the abandoned Ehelepola Walawwa which was used as a remand prison will be renovated with part of it being converted to a hotel. Once the refurbishment activities the area will have food courts and shopping complexes. The project which is estimated to cost Rs.300 million will be funded by the UDA. Refurbishment activities are ongoing and the project is expected to be completed next year. Since both buildings are declared as World Heritage sites all construction activities will be carried out according to World Heritage regulations while preserving their historical value.