Race Course goes the Dutch Hospital way

29 December 2011 12:49 am Views - 7986

The Race Course Grounds at Reid Avenue in the heart of Colombo would be converted into a Dutch Hospital- style Development Project with restaurants, shopping centres and other places for sports and leisure, The Urban Development Authority (UDA) said yesterday. The project was a concept designed and supervised by Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

UDA Director General Nihal Fernando said that the rugby sports grounds, the mini stand and grand stand at the Race Course Grounds, as well as the buildings in the area would remain. However he said that significant changes would be made.

“This is a conservation project similar to the Dutch Hospital Development Project.

“No buildings will be torn down. Instead the original structures will be renovated. The new project will have a mix of activities similar to the Dutch Hospital concept,” Fernando said. He said the UDA intended to advertise in the near future and would call for tenders soon.

The development project is carried out in two stages, of which the first stage will be completed in March next year in time for the Sinhala-Hindu New year.

He said the value of the project was yet to be estimated. (Olindhi Jayasundere)