MoU signed for design work for a swimming pool complex for the Colombo University

From L to R :- Alumni ExCo Member Mr. J.M.S. Bandara, Mr. Thilan Koththigoda, Prof. Chandrika Wijeyaratne, Vice Chancellor, Mr. Rajeev Amarasuriya, Mrs. Sunethra Peiris, Alumni Head of Administration, Mr. Asanka Ranhotty, Co-Chair, Swimming Pool Steering Committee

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Alumni Association of the University of Colombo and KWA Architects for the Architectural and Structural Work for a new 50 Meter Swimming Pool for the University of Colombo.

The Alumni Association of the University of Colombo has undertaken to construct a Professional Swimming Pool for the University of Colombo, which has been a long term need of the University.  Construction is due to commence by the middle of this year.

The proposed swimming pool complex is expected to meet and exceed all standards associated with a professional aquatic facility. Once constructed, the facility will benefit present and future generations of students of the University of Colombo, for years to come.

KWA Architects have come forward to provide all the Design and Structural Work in a honourary capacity. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. Thilan Koththigoda, Precedent Partner of KWA Architects said that they consider this project as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility. Many of the Architects at KWA, including himself are products of the Local University system and he said that they consider this as an opportunity to give back to Sri Lanka’s University system.

Mr. Koththigoda went on to state that considering the value of the proposed swimming pool project for the University of Colombo as a project of national significance, KWA Architects together with their engineering and cost consultancy partners Edifice Consultants (Pvt.) Ltd., Haritha Consultants (Pvt.) Ltd and ARQS Consultants (Pvt.) Ltd, decided to provide the design and consultancy services on a pro bono basis.

The project team will comprise Architects Mr. Thilan Koththigoda and Ms. Thushari Wijesundera as the Lead Architects, Chartered Engineer Mr. Nuwan Bandaranayake, Director Engineering of Edifice Consultants (Pvt.) Ltd as the Structural Engineer, Chartered Engineer Mr. Shiran Jayalath as the Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Engineer and Mr. Hasitha Gunasekera, Managing Director of ARQS Consultants (Pvt) Ltd as the Cost Consultants 
Mr. Rajeev Amarasuriya, President of the Alumni Association of the University of Colombo said that when the University requested the support of the Alumni Association to construct this Swimming Pool Complex, even though a very large project, the Association undertook the same as this would be a development which would cater to and benefit generations of students. He went on to state that in 1995, the Association gifted to the University of Colombo a 400 bed Women’s Hostel Complex and Buller’s Lane and now 24 years thereafter, the Association representing all Alumni of the University of Colombo was happy to take on this project which was even larger in magnitude. He invited all Alumni of the University of Colombo to support this initiative.