By The Pulseline News Desk
The Cabinet of Ministers has reportedly approved a major urban redevelopment initiative to repurpose 24 government-owned ministerial bungalows in Colombo for commercial, cultural, and diplomatic use. The project aims to transform several high-value residential areas into a vibrant and walkable “Cultural Loop” featuring cafés, restaurants, boutique hotels, retail outlets, office spaces, and embassies.
Under the proposal, the properties will be leased to private investors for periods of up to 30 years under the provisions of the State Lands Ordinance.
Development zones identified
The redevelopment project has been divided into two main zones.
Zone 1
Twelve bungalows located in Colombo 5 and surrounding areas, including:
- Stanmore Crescent
- Chandrawanka Road
- MacKenzie Road
- Keppetipola Mawatha
- Paget Road
will be redeveloped for:
- Boutique retail businesses
- Boutique suites
- Cafés
- Restaurants
In addition, two separate parcels have also been identified:
- Bauddhaloka Mawatha properties (D2 and D4) for retail trade, residential purposes, and embassy use.
- Skelton Road properties (E1 and E2) for boutique hotels and retail businesses.
Zone 2
Nine bungalows located along:
- Wijerama Mawatha
- Kobbekaduwa Mawatha
have been allocated for:
- Residential developments
- Embassies
- Office complexes.
Vision for a “cultural loop”
According to the government, the project is intended to create a modern urban cultural district where museums, leisure spaces, accommodation facilities, restaurants, retail outlets, and social activities are interconnected within a pedestrian-friendly environment.
Officials describe the initiative as an effort to blend Colombo’s architectural heritage with new economic opportunities and tourism-oriented development.
Investor selection process
The Cabinet has instructed the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development to adopt a Request for Proposals (RFP) process rather than the traditional Expression of Interest (EOI) system when selecting investors for the properties.
A joint committee comprising the Presidential Secretariat, the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, and the Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat identified the 24 properties suitable for economic utilisation.
Heritage protection measures
Authorities emphasized that many of the bungalows possess historical and archaeological significance. As a result, investors selected through the proposal process will be prohibited from making structural alterations without obtaining approval from the relevant heritage authorities.
All redevelopment activities must preserve the architectural and cultural value of the buildings.
Stanmore Crescent property excluded
One property located at Stanmore Crescent in Colombo 5 (B63) has been excluded from the proposal process due to unresolved ownership verification issues.
Instead, the government plans to establish the State–Private Partnership Support Agency at that location.
Government policy shift
The move also reflects a broader policy decision by the government not to reserve ministerial bungalows for ministers in the future.
Additionally, the President has decided that presidential residences will no longer be used for private personal purposes.
A separate committee appointed to review state-owned residences is expected to submit further recommendations regarding presidential mansions located outside Colombo after completing additional inspections.
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