On a clear morning, the distant green hills and Adam’s Peak are visible from the peak of Colombo’s tallest apartment complex, the Empire twin towers, according to officials.
Built by an entire Sri Lankan crew – designers, contractors, labour --, the 39-level twin towers have all the modern infrastructure and provides an ultimate in luxury living, according to Raj Selvaskandan, Deputy Chairman at CT Properties Ltd.
The complex, which has completed construction on schedule at a time when many new complexes have been put on hold or abandoned due to economic uncertainties, is due to open in March. It has been built on the former landmark Empire Theatre owned by Ceylon Theatres (CT) on a one acre extent of land at Braybrooke Place.
Mr Selvaskandan said the two blocks have a total of 104 super luxury apartments including four penthouses with floor space ranging from 2,028 sq feet to over 4,000 sq feet. The company has already sold around 87 units.
Ranjit Page, a director of the company which is part of the CT Group, said the decision to move into property development stems partly from a sizable land base the company owns in the city and outside.
He said the CT Group has always looked at diversification and now has made inroads into food and beverages, agriculture, ceremicware, plantations, financial services and property development. “In each of these sectors we are either number one or two,” he added.
Mr Page said the group is confident that the economy will grow in the latter half of 2009 and are gearing for more investment.
Mr Selvaskandan said the company will also soon start on the GS (Gaity-Sellamahal) Cinema Tower project encompassing the two cinemas (on 1 ¼ acre of land) at Grandpass. This is a retail/car-park cum office complex just like Majestic City.
Mr Selvaskandan emphasized on the quality of the workmanship and the standard of the material used saying in one instance, “we tested the strength of aluminium frames at a higher elevation on the peaks in Hong Kong, as winds there are stronger that what we find at the highest level at the Empire.”
There are two apartments per floor while the complex has a gym, swimming pool, clubhouse with pool tables and international cuisine to service residents and a squash court.
He said the designers were Design Group 5, the structural engineers Stems Consultants Pte Ltd while well known architect Jayantha Perera is a consultant in the company. |
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