Asiff Husein
Ceylinco Seylan Developments Ltd., a member of the Ceylinco Group recently completed the superstructure of the Ceylinco Seylan Twin Towers, Colombo’s latest commercial landmark.
Chairman of the Ceylinco Group, Lalith Kotalawela speaking at a ceremony held to mark the occasion said that the 17- storey Seylan Bank Tower and the 11-storey Ceylinco Apartment To wer would be ready for occupancy by early 1998. He recalled that the Rs 1 billion project was mooted subsequent to the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) rescue operations in Sri Lanka by Seylan Bank, a member of the Ceylinco Group.
He noted that Ceylinco which thus obtained a long lease on the strategically-placed piece of land adjacent to Galle road, Kollupitiya, decided to build the headquarters of Seylan bank and of some of the other subsidiaries of the group on the property.
“This prestigious block of real estate overlooks the Indian Ocean in all its glory, and it occurred to us that we should build a few luxury apartments,” he said, tracing the origins of the Ceylinco Apartment Tower.
Kotalawela noted that this was the first time in Sri Lanka that the advanced technique of soil stabilization known as ‘jet grouting’ was carried out.
The environmentally- friendly technique advocated by the world renowned Ove Arup & Partners, he noted, entailed converting the soil within the boundaries of the premises to a form of subterranean concrete, a measure which also prevented the underground water beneath the adjoining buildings from being drawn into the site during construction of the basements.
He observed that since the structural work has been brought to a conclusion, the installation of the electro-mechanical, air conditioning and security systems can proceed and is expected to be completed by the end of October. The finishing touches to these items and the interior décor work will be given by the end of December so that we hope to go into occupation early in the year 1998,’ he added.
