Beating 151 competing countries, the state-of-the-art new eco-friendly community-based library, built at the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR) Headquarters at Ambepussa, was adjudged the second best in the world, nominating it for the Silver Medal in the recent 4th International Eco - Friendly Construction competition of the ‘Holcim Foundation.’
The ceremony for award of the Silver Medal took place during a recent ceremony at the Ambepussa SLSR Headquarters where Major General Boniface Perera, Colonel of the Regiment, SLSR on behalf of all who laboured to erect this eco-friendly construction at Ambepussa, accepted the Silver Medal amidst a distinguished gathering.
Mr. Edward Schwarz - General Manager Lafarge Holcim Foundation from Switzerland, Mr Ian Thackwray - Executive Committee member for Asia Pacific Lafarge Holcim, Ms Meisa Batayneh Maani - Representative of the Global Jury, Ms Bi Young Chungunco - Area Manager South East Asia West, Lafarge Holcim, Ms Maria Atkinson - Representative of Board of the Foundation and the Global Jury, Mr Milinda Pathiraja - Robust Architecture Workshop and Mr Philippe Richard - CEO Holcim Lanka were present, together with other invitees to award the Silver Medal.
On the same occasion, architects, Mr Milinda Pathiraja and Ms Ganga Rathnayake of the Robust Architects in Colombo, together with SLSR soldiers who made the project a reality using natural stuff, were awarded separate laurels and certificates of proficiency during the ceremony.
Colombia received the Gold Medal for its unique eco - friendly construction while the Bronze Medal went to the USA for its exclusive architecture that matched the standards of the Global Jury. A total of 6000 contenders from 152 countries vied for supremacy in the competition and it was judged by a Global Jury comprised of a panel of eminent personnel after receiving recommendations from their representative nominees across the world. The Global Jury however managed to select the few finalists in the fray after careful evaluation and close scrutiny.
The SLSR Headquarters, intending to be a knowledge hub in the Army by the year 2020, expects to have electronic volumes of reading books available for the entire Army and plans to extend those services to the public with the objective of imparting knowledge on various issues.
Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva, on hearing the achievement in Switzerland, has reportedly conveyed his best wishes and greetings to all involved in the project.
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