Business

Working past, present and future at the Geoffrey Bawa Trust

Published

3 weeks ago

2026/06/6

Visitors to Lunuganga ahead of the southwest monsoon may have noticed garden staff working in the water surrounding the estate’s sundial — not an unusual sight given the nature of conservation work, but representative of the breadth and rigour that defines the Trust’s approach. The task at hand was the restoration of the Butterfly Pond, one of many ongoing efforts to preserve the integrity of Geoffrey Bawa’s work for present and future generations.

Conservation of Geoffrey Bawa’s estate is among the primary mandates of the Geoffrey Bawa and Lunuganga Trusts, non-profit organisations established by the architect during his lifetime. Upon his passing, Bawa entrusted the entirety of his estate to the Trusts, which now hold stewardship of the Geoffrey Bawa Collection and Archives. Given that Bawa’s professional practice and private collection spanned architecture, art, furniture, and landscape design, the Trusts’ conservation programme is correspondingly broad in scope.

“We work across many mediums and even locations,” says Aneesha Mustachi, Senior Curator overseeing conservation within the Geoffrey Bawa Trust collection. “Within a week, we could go from working with drawings in our archive at the Geoffrey Bawa Space in Colombo, then over to Number 11, Geoffrey Bawa’s private residence, to restore a deteriorating frame on an artwork, and off to Lunuganga to figure out how best to electrify and re-install an old wall sconce that has sat in storage for a decade. It’s a fine balance making these spaces publicly accessible and usable while maintaining the integrity and safety of our collection. The work requires significant patience, effort and learning, but it’s also rewarding knowing that we’re maintaining Geoffrey Bawa’s legacy for present and future generations to experience and learn from.”

Landscape and Archive Conservation

In the Lunuganga garden, on the edge of the Field of Jars, stands the head of a Hindu Pan. Horned and commanding, the sculpture sits at the edge of a pond, its reflection caught among the surrounding vegetation. Years of monsoon flooding, however, have compromised the pond’s structure and left the piece vulnerable to ongoing water damage. With climate change driving higher water levels and increasingly unpredictable rainfall, the conservation challenge extends beyond restoration to future-proofing.

“Conservation work in the garden is not just about maintaining the exactness of Geoffrey Bawa’s designs, but also about adapting and considering the future,” says Soham Kacker, Curator for Living Collections.

During the restoration of Pan’s pond, the team incorporated a new overflow drain, a subtle intervention not present in Bawa’s original design, but one that ensures the long-term preservation of the work while remaining unobtrusive to the visitor experience.

In Colombo, conservation work moves indoors to the archive at the Bawa Space on Horton Place. Comprising 9,500 items — including original drawings, textiles, photographs, paintings, sketches, and documents from Geoffrey Bawa’s practice — the archive entered a new phase in 2024 with its transfer into purpose-built archival facilities. The rehousing process took over a year and required the development of systems tailored to local resources and conditions, while meeting rigorous international archival standards.
Conserving a Generation of Artists

The Trusts’ conservation mandate extends beyond Bawa’s own work to encompass the contributions of his contemporaries. At Lunuganga, the gatehouse loggia overlooking the ha-ha (a traditional sunken road) houses an iconic mural by artist Laki Senanayake. Painted in Senanayake’s characteristically bold style, the work depicts a dramatic scene drawn from Vedic legend, rendered through techniques derived from ancient wall painting traditions. Its motifs echo those found across Senanayake’s broader practice, including his 1961 work Portuguese Arriving in a Cloud and the sculptured handrail of the spiral staircase at Bawa’s Lighthouse Hotel, completed in 1995.

Senanayake began the mural in 1969 and worked on it for fourteen years, producing a detailed and richly layered composition dominated by blues, browns, and yellows. After decades of exposure, however, the work had deteriorated significantly, its illustrations and colour palette fading with time.

In 2025, the Trust engaged conservator Ajith Jayasundara and his team to undertake a full restoration. “The mural deteriorated mainly due to roof leaks and prolonged moisture penetration; it was heavily affected by algae, fungi, and lichen growth,” says Jayasundara. The project encompassed structural conservation of the verandah walls and roof, though the mural itself was not repainted or redrawn. “The most challenging aspect of the project was removing the microorganisms without damaging the original mural surface,” he notes. “But once the microorganisms were removed, the mural surface became much clearer and visually legible. Only areas that were completely damaged were minimally filled and carefully toned to maintain visual continuity.”

Building Institutional Capacity

The Trusts’ conservation programme also invests in developing the next generation of conservation professionals. Beyond preserving Geoffrey Bawa’s legacy, the organisation is committed to advancing expertise in museum and archival practice across Sri Lanka.

Staff typically enter the programme as interns, progressing to junior and senior roles as their knowledge and skills develop. “On-the-job training is a big part of working at the Geoffrey Bawa Trust,” says Nasla Yoosuf, who joined as an intern and now serves as Junior Conservation Assistant. “It’s a great transition from classroom work to hands-on experience working in the field. It’s also a nice reminder that those of us who study art and design have career paths open to them beyond the corporate work of media and advertising.”

At the Lunuganga sundial, the Butterfly Pond restoration has now been completed. Drawing on historical photographs to guide their approach, the team removed invasive plant species and replanted the area with native mangrove ferns. The outcome reflects what is consistent across the Trusts’ conservation work: the result not of any single individual, but of a collaborative effort across disciplines and roles.

Check the website for more information on working at the Geoffrey Bawa Trust. In addition to its work with the collection and archives, The Geoffrey Bawa Trust hosts regular public events, workshops and lectures on topics relating to art, architecture, and ecology. The Bawa Space is located at 42/1 Horton Place, Colombo 07 and is open Thursday–Sunday, 11.30 a.m. until 5.30 p.m during exhibitions. The next exhibition will open in June, 2026.

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Business

‘First major legal reset on environmental protection in 38 years’

Published

38 mins ago

2026/06/25

Sahan Weerasooriya

Prof. Tilak Hewawsam: ‘Milestone reached.’

Parliament yesterday took up for debate and vote a sweeping overhaul of Sri Lanka’s main environmental law, in what the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) hopes will become the country’s first major legal reset on environmental protection in 38 years.

The National Environmental (Amendment) Bill, taken up for its final reading in the House, is being seen by environmental officials as a critical attempt to modernise an outdated legal framework that has struggled to keep pace with mounting pollution, hazardous waste, ecological degradation and the environmental fallout of unplanned development.

In a sign of the importance attached to the Bill, senior CEA officials remained in parliament throughout the day as the debate unfolded, amid growing expectations within the environmental sector that the revised law would strengthen the Authority’s hand in regulation, enforcement and environmental planning.

CEA chairman Prof. Tilak Hewawasam described yesterday as a “very special day” for the Authority and said the proposed amendments were long overdue.

“Yesterday was a very special day for the Central Environmental Authority. The Bill to amend the National Environmental Act was read in parliament for the final time, debated and voted on. This was the third revision of the Act and came 26 years after the previous amendment. While the 2000 revision was only a minor one, the 1988 amendment was a comprehensive reform that provided the legal framework and tools such as the EPL and EIA for environmental protection and environmental management in Sri Lanka. After 38 years, another comprehensive revision has now been proposed to Parliament, Hewawasam told The Island Finacial Review.

He said the CEA leadership and senior staff had closely followed the proceedings, hopeful that parliament would clear the Bill and pave the way for a stronger legal framework for sustainable development.

“We were very eager to see this revised Act passed and enacted by parliament, as it will provide the legal framework needed to drive and accelerate the country’s sustainable development, he said.

The push for reform comes at a time when the country’s environmental governance framework is under increasing strain from industrial pollution, mounting solid waste, chemical hazards, encroachment into environmentally sensitive zones and the widening conflict between economic activity and ecological safeguards.

Environmental officials say the revised law is intended to close long-standing legal and institutional gaps that have weakened environmental enforcement and slowed regulatory action.

Among the major changes proposed are provisions to legally recognise Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA), strengthen the CEA’s authority to issue binding orders instead of merely recommendations, tighten controls on hazardous waste and chemicals, expand producer responsibility in waste management, and empower authorities to act more decisively against unauthorised constructions and environmentally harmful activities in protected and ecologically sensitive areas.

By Ifham Nizam

Business

La Serena marks Vesak with evening of Bhakthi Gee and reflection

Published

40 mins ago

2026/06/25

Sahan Weerasooriya

Residents of La Serena recently came together in a spirit of quiet reflection and shared devotion for a Vesak Bhakthi Gee recital, transforming the serene beachfront setting into an evening of song, mindfulness and gentle celebration.

The programme, organised for residents and invited guests, featured a collection of Buddhist devotional songs that captured the essence of Vesak, fostering a sense of inner peace and spiritual fulfilment. Voices joined in harmony, creating a deeply moving atmosphere rich in meaning and memory.

With around 60 per cent of La Serena residents being expatriate Sri Lankans, the event was particularly evocative. One resident observed that having lived overseas for many years, they had missed Sri Lankan cultural and religious celebrations, making the celebration especially meaningful.

Beyond the music, the gathering strengthened the bonds of community that define life at La Serena, encouraging connection, conversation and companionship among residents. Rooted in Sri Lankan cultural and religious tradition, the event reflected the resort’s commitment to enriching emotional and spiritual well-being through thoughtfully curated experiences.

La Serena is a purpose-built beachfront retirement resort in Uswetakeiyawa, offering a secure and dignified environment for assisted living. Combining the privacy of independent living with access to personalised care and shared amenities, it fosters a vibrant, connected lifestyle where residents can enjoy comfort, companionship and peace of mind.

Business

Sarvodaya Development Finance records strong FY2025/26 performance, reinforcing growth

Published

41 mins ago

2026/06/25

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sarvodaya Development Finance PLC (SDF) delivered a strong financial performance for the year ended 31 March 2026, recording significant growth in income, profitability, portfolio expansion, and asset quality while continuing its commitment to responsible and inclusive finance.

For the financial year under review, SDF reported total income of LKR 6.42 billion, a year-on year increase of 46.8%. Interest income rose by 43.8% to LKR 5.85 billion, driven by business expansion and growth in earning assets. Net Interest Income increased by 35.4% to LKR 3.58 billion, while Total Operating Income grew by 40.8% to LKR 4.15 billion, reflecting the Company’s ability to generate strong and sustainable earnings.

Profitability improved substantially during the year. Operating Profit before Tax on Financial Services increased by 59.9% to LKR 1.82 billion, while Profit Before Tax rose by 63.8% to LKR 1.36 billion. Profit for the Year increased by 73.1% to LKR 820.1 million compared with LKR 473.8 million in the previous year. Earnings per share improved to LKR 5.48, demonstrating enhanced value creation for shareholders.

The Company’s balance sheet expanded significantly, with total assets increasing by 65.8% to LKR 37.37 billion as at 31 March 2026. Financial assets at amortized cost, including loans and receivables, grew by 67.2% to LKR 20.60 billion, while lease rental receivables increased by 34.0% to LKR 9.19 billion. SDF also strengthened its funding profile through debt securities, including Sustainable Bonds, amounting to LKR 2.09 billion.

Commenting on the performance, Chief Executive Officer, Nilantha Jayanetti stated, “The results achieved during FY2025/26 reflect the strength of our business model, disciplined growth strategy, and commitment to delivering responsible financial solutions. We remain focused on creating sustainable value while supporting communities and enterprises across Sri Lanka.”

SDF maintained a strong capital position, with a Tier 1 Capital Adequacy Ratio of 15.48% and a Total Capital Adequacy Ratio of 22.13%, both comfortably above regulatory requirements. Asset quality also improved, with the Gross Stage 3 Loans Ratio declining to 4.93% from 7.88% and the Net Stage 3 Loans Ratio improving to 2.94% from 5.70%. The Stage 3 Impairment Coverage Ratio strengthened to 42.60%.

Operational efficiency improved as the Cost-to-Income Ratio reduced to 42.99%, while Return on Equity increased to 19.60%. Reflecting its stronger financial position, SDF’s external credit rating was upgraded to Lanka Ratings (SL) BBB- Stable.

With a network of 56 branches, SDF remains committed to advancing financial inclusion, supporting sustainable enterprise growth, and contributing to Sri Lanka’s long-term socio-economic development.