MAGA to construct Rs. 10.3 b worth South Asia’s first-ever ‘Green University Town’
Wednesday, 20 November 2013 11:12
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National School of Business Management facility in Homagama to help Sri Lanka’s quest to be a knowledge hub
By Shabiya Ali Ahlam
As part of an overall effort to make Sri Lanka a knowledge hub and marking a turning point in the country’s education landscape, work on South Asia’s first-ever ‘Green University Town’ was kicked off yesterday.
The construction contract for the National School of Business Management (NSBM) Green University Complex in Homagama was ceremoniously handed over to MAGA Engineering Ltd., with Minister of Youth Affairs and Skills Development Dullas Alahapperuma as the Chief Guest.
NSBM CEO Dr. E. A. Weerasinghe, NIBM Chairman Prof. Lakshman Jayathilake, MAGA Engineering Chairman/Managing Director M. G. Kularatne, Bank of Ceylon General Manager D.M. Gunasekara, Ministry of Higher Education Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navarathne and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development Secretary K. A. Tilakaratne were amongst other Government officials at the event.
Conceptualised by NSBM, which is linked to the National Institute of Business Management (NIBM), the green university will cost Rs. 10.3 billion and State giant Bank of Ceylon will finance it. Construction work is expected to start on 18 December 2013 on an auspicious note.
The university
The NSBM green university, designed by engineering consultants, will be built in Pitipana, Homagama, on 26 acres of land with a construction cost of Rs. 8.615 billion. Expected to reach completion in 24 months, the facility is expected to house 30,000 local and international undergraduates.
The upcoming university will have the faculties of computing, management and engineering and will feature state-of-the-art lecture hall facilities, laboratories, libraries, modern auditoriums and cutting-edge tech labs, offering the highest standards of education.
It will also offer hostels, free study areas, cinemas, expansive lounge and walking areas, swimming pools, modern gymnasium, and a business unit. The objective of having such facilities is to offer students a complete education and a live-in facility, bringing the university experience of 21st century to their doorstep.
Knowledge hub
Minister Alahapperuma said the building of the Green University Town brings Sri Lanka a step closer in becoming a knowledge hub in the region.
“Sri Lanka is on a fast track to development and the NSBM Green University Town will provide the necessary platform to develop human resource suiting its future. Modern education is about creating global graduates through innovative and experiential learning. This Government is proud to take the helm in delivering this change which would transform the nation into the ‘Wonder of Asia’,” he added.
The Minister also said the project would contribute greatly to the national economy since along with the growth of the knowledge base; the foreign direct income earned via international students will also increase.
Sharing similar sentiments, NSBM CEO Dr. Weerasinghe affirmed that the Green University Town will help promote Sri Lanka as an educational hub in the region.
“Sri Lanka has amply demonstrated the strength of its education system with its highly-skilled and knowledgeable human resource base. However, despite the potency of our system, we have struggled to position ourselves amongst the top educational institutes in the world. NSBM is a proud catalyst in changing the future and the education potential of the nation. We are privileged to work with some of the best talent in the education and construction sphere to deliver this ground breaking project,” expressed Dr. Weerasinghe.
Highly efficient team in place
MAGA expressed confidence on the timely completion of the unique building within 24 months with accepted quality as it has a ‘highly efficient team,’ according to its Chairman.
Speaking to the Daily FT, Kularatne shared that the company in fact hopes to complete the project ahead of schedule, just as it has done with many other project.
Although this is not the first time MAGA is taking over a university project, it is the first time it will construct a green university. Kularatne noted that the idea of the Green University Town is about the performance of the buildings using minimum power.
In addition to the maximisation of natural lighting and ventilation which will achieved by having expansive open spaces in the buildings, other ‘green’ characteristics of the project include, green rooftops, rainwater harvesting, solid waste management, and preserving the natural green environment in the complex.
While the NSBM project is amongst the top contracts MAGA has successfully bagged in the recent past, in terms of human resource the company will allocate approximately 1,500 persons in total, of which 200 will be staff, and 30 will be chartered engineers.
