Defence Headquarters (Sri Lanka)

The Defence Headquarters Complex (Sinhala: ආරක්ෂක හමුදා මුලස්ථානය, romanized: ārakshaka hamudā mūlasthānaya) is a complex of buildings currently under construction at Akuregoda, Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte to house the Sri Lanka Armed Forces headquarters and offices of the Ministry of Defence.

Defence Headquarters Complex
Defence Headquarters (Sri Lanka) is located in Colombo District
Defence Headquarters (Sri Lanka)
Location in Colombo District
General information
StatusUnder Construction/ Partially Completed
TypeGovernment/Military
LocationAkuregoda, Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte
Coordinates6.891385°N 79.93663°E / 6.891385; 79.93663
Construction startedOctober 2011 (2011-10)
OwnerMinistry of Defence
Technical details
Floor area127,727 square metres (1,370,000 sq ft)
Design and construction
Architecture firmMuditha Jayakody Associates [1]

History

Under the Colombo Master Plan of 1979 all government offices in Colombo are to be moved to the administrative capital of Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte, enabling the release of high-value land in Colombo for commercial development. The headquarters of various defence institutions were separate and scattered across Colombo, resulting in great inefficiency and high-security zones amidst commercial areas, causing disturbance to the general public.[2]

Thus Defence Headquarters Complex allows resources to be better utilised and provides defence personnel with a state of the art office complex. This increases operational, administrative and logistic efficiency and minimises the disturbances caused to civilians and economic activities.[2][3] Construction commenced in 2011 with the parliamentary approval of Rs. 20 billion allocation. In 2015, with the change of government, construction halted and allocated funds were taken over by the Treasury which caused construction delays.[4] [5]

In November 2019, the Sri Lanka Army began moving its headquarters to the completed blocks 6 and 7.

In May 2021, Ministry of Defence shifted to the newly constructed Block 1 of Defence Headquarters Complex.[6]

Complex

The Administrative Building Complex consist of eight nine-storey buildings. In addition there is another block of similar size separate from the administrative complex as a communications center alongside other buildings.[7]

The Administrative Building Complex consist of,[2]

  • Block No. 1 - Ministry of Defence
  • Block No. 2 - Ministry of Defence
  • Block No. 3 - Sri Lanka Navy Headquarters
  • Block No. 4 - Sri Lanka Air Force Headquarters
  • Block No. 5 - Combined conference Space
  • Block No. 6 - Army Headquarters
  • Block No. 7 - Army Headquarters
  • Block No. 8 - Office of Chief Defence Staff
  • Block No. 9 - Joint Operations Command (JOC) Headquarters

in addition the complex contains several independent buildings which include

  • Communication Building and Signal Tower
  • Security Building
  • Water Sump and Pump House
  • Sewerage treatment plant
  • Generator building

References
  1. "Sri Lanka to cancel architects' consultancy in defence HQ deal". Economynext.com. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  2. "Performance Report 2019 - Ministry of Defence" (PDF). Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  3. "Shangrila-La investment a case in point, says GR". island.lk. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  4. "Defence HQ constructions halted". Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  5. "Battaramulla Military HQ construction work delayed". 28 February 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  6. "Defence Ministry shifted to Defence Headquarters Complex". Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  7. "CECB". cecb.lk. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
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