Nuwara Eliya historic post office to be developed as tourism promotion centre

Friday, 6 November 2026 00:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Work begins on Rs. 78.34 m two-storey postal administration building
Navy contributing labour to conservation under Archaeology Department supervision
Rs. 600 m allocated for postal infrastructure repairs and conservation in 2026

The historic Nuwara Eliya Post Office is to be developed into a tourism promotion centre following its conservation, with Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa describing the initiative as an investment in preserving national heritage while creating additional value for the tourism industry.

The Minister made the remarks yesterday, after laying the foundation stone for a new two-storey postal administration building within the post office premises, at an estimated cost of Rs. 78.34 million.

He subsequently inspected ongoing conservation and development work at the historic building, a landmark constructed during the British colonial era in the English Tudor architectural style, featuring distinctive red-brick walls.

The conservation work is being undertaken with labour support from the Sri Lanka Navy, under the supervision of the Department of Buildings and the Department of Archaeology.

Once completed, the restored building is expected to function as a tourism promotion centre, providing information and guidance to local and foreign visitors on tourist attractions across the country.

The new two-storey building will accommodate the Nuwara Eliya Regional Superintendent of Post Office and the postal operations division, enabling administrative and operational functions to be relocated while conservation work proceeds on the historic structure.

The Government has allocated Rs. 600 million in 2026 for repairs and conservation across the postal network, covering the Nuwara Eliya Post Office and 88 other post offices islandwide.

Education and Higher Education Deputy Minister Dr. Madhura Seneviratne, Nuwara Eliya District Secretary Thushari Tennakoon, Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara and other officials attended the event.