Renovated 'Sirimathipaya' Prime Minister's Office opened

COLOMBO (News 1st): The renovated 'Sirimathipaya,' the Prime Minister's Office at Flower Road, Colombo, was declared open by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday (20).

President Rajapaksa inspected the photographs displayed in the renovated office and inspected the office premises as well.

A first day cover and a commemorative postage stamp was also released marking the inauguration of the duties of the new office under the aegis of the President.

The Sri Lanka Navy renovated the building under the supervision of former Secretary to the Prime Minister Gamini Senarath as per the vision of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

This two-storeyed mansion was built by Albert Emmanuel de Silva in 1916 for his son Sir Albert Ernest de Silva.

The mansion was handed over to the State by family members in 1960 following the demise of Sir Ernest de Silva.

The Ministry of Education and Broadcasting, and the Ministry of Local Government, Housing and Construction were then established in Sirimathipaya.

In 1978, the then Prime Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa established the Prime Minister's Office in Sirimathipaya.

Sirimathipaya, which is more than a hundred years old, has undergone a complete overhaul after 44 years.

A book consisting of the history and photographs of Sirimathipaya was presented to the President by the President's Secretary Gamini Senarath.