Colombo City Centre construction begins with $ 150 m investment

• Lifestyle retail mall, a 200-room NEXT Hotel and 180 residential units in mega complex by Abans Group and SilverNeedle Hospitality of Singapore

Defence and Urban Development Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa (left), Colombo City Centre Partners Chairman and SilverNeedle Hospitality MD and Group CEO Iqbal Jumabhoy, Abans Group Chairperson Aban Pestonjee and Abans Director Rusi Pestonjee at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Colombo City Centre yesterday - Pic by Sameera Wijesinghe

By Sarah Hannan Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development Authority, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, laid the foundation stone for the Colombo City Centre (CCC) yesterday at Sir James Pieris Mawatha, Colombo 02, officially marking the commencement of construction. A joint venture between the Abans Group and SilverNeedle Hospitality of Singapore, Colombo City Centre Partners Ltd. will engage internationally-renowned partners to complete this landmark at the heart of Colombo. The multipurpose lifestyle centre is scheduled for completion in early 2018 with a $ 150-million investment and consists of a lifestyle retail mall, a 200-room NEXT Hotel and 180 residential units. Colombo City Centre Partners Ltd. Chairman and SilverNeedle Hospitality MD and Group CEO Iqbal Jumabhoy stated that the dream of redefining Colombo’s skyline became a reality. Elaborating on the time taken between the official announcement and the groundbreaking and foundation-laying ceremony held yesterday Jumabhoy noted: “Before we got to this stage of breaking ground and laying the foundation stone, we wanted to ensure that we chose the designs and obtained all the necessary permits and approvals to begin construction.” “I am honoured to know that SilverNeedle has taken a decision to make such a major investment for the future development of Colombo. SilverNeedle taking such an initiative will send much-needed signals of business confidence to other Australian companies. I am very confident that we will see further investments come across the line in the coming years,” Australian High Commissioner Robyn Mudie stated. Rising 48 storeys above Colombo’s central building district, the structure contains over 1,000,000 square feet. The first five levels of the centre, with an area of 230,000 square feet, will comprise the lifestyle retail mall. Just above the mall will be a 200-room NEXT Hotel marking its first entry into the Asian continent after Australia. The upper levels of CCC will offer 180 residential units where residents will enjoy exclusive club amenities and use of the sky terrace. Speaking about the additional features of the CCC Colombo City Centre Partners Director and Abans Group Chairperson Aban Pestonjee commented: “Currently there is no place in Sri Lanka where the whole family can go and enjoy themselves. We want to provide entertainment for Sri Lankans and their families as well as tourists with a mix of local and international brands, a cinema and food court. This will allow children and their parents to spend valuable family time together.” The lead designer of this project is award-winning global architecture firm Aedas, while Gensler is responsible for the interior of the hotel and residences. SN Property, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SilverNeedle Hospitality and international award-winning project management and construction consultants Gleeds Hooloomann are project managers. Retail planning and securing tenants for the lifestyle mall will be handled by Hong Kong-based Husband Retail Consulting. Veteran property manager Richard Buultjens will focus on sales and marketing for the residential units and leasing of the retail space.