Oliver Weerasinghe
Encyclopedia
Oliver Weerasinghe, FRIBA
was a Sri Lanka
n architect & diplomat. He was Sri Lanka's first City Planner
and former Ambassador
to the United States
.
As such he his referred to as the "Father of Sri Lanka's Town Planning".
Weerasingh was educated at the prestigious Royal College Colombo
and went on to study architecture at the University of Liverpool
, under the guidance of Sir
Patrick Abercrombie
. Later he became a Fellow
of the Royal Institute of British Architects
and a Fellow of the Royal Town Planning Institute
. He was a founding President of the Ceylon Institute of Architects.
He gain wide recognition when his deigned the "Lake House Building", the headoffice of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon
, own by press baron D. R. Wijewardena
. He then became Ceylon's first city planner, when he was appointed to the newly created post of Architect and City Planner of Ceylon, as the head Ceylon's first Department of Town and Country Planning. In this capacity he was instrumental in the planning and development of the new city of Anuradhapura
in 1940's, it was a step to preserving the ancient city. He headed a committee to study housing development in the island and its recommendations lead to the creation of the Ministry for Housing in 1954.
In 1956, he joined the United Nations
and was later appointed as Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the United States. During his tenure he established four consulates and the Buddhist Temple of Washington, D.C.
.
Oliver Weerasinghe married Christobel Kotalawala, the only daughter of Sir
Henry Kotalawala, a member of the State Council of Ceylon
from Uva and Badulla
for 28 years. Their son Rohan, is a Senior Managing Partner of a major global law firm and daughter, Menakka, is a former lecturer at the University of Michigan
.
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
was a Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n architect & diplomat. He was Sri Lanka's first City Planner
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
and former Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
As such he his referred to as the "Father of Sri Lanka's Town Planning".
Weerasingh was educated at the prestigious Royal College Colombo
Royal College Colombo
The Royal College of Colombo was founded in January 1835 in Colombo. It is considered to be the leading Public School in Sri Lanka...
and went on to study architecture at the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
, under the guidance of Sir
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Patrick Abercrombie
Patrick Abercrombie
Sir Leslie Patrick Abercrombie ) was an English town planner. Educated at Uppingham School, Rutland; brother of Lascelles Abercrombie, poet and literary critic.-Career:...
. Later he became a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
and a Fellow of the Royal Town Planning Institute
Royal Town Planning Institute
The Royal Town Planning Institute is a body representing planning professionals in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. It was founded in 1914.-Members:...
. He was a founding President of the Ceylon Institute of Architects.
He gain wide recognition when his deigned the "Lake House Building", the headoffice of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon
Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited
Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited , also known as Lake House, is the largest newspaper company in South East Asia. It publishes three daily, three weekend, five weekly, two monthly and three annual publications in Sinhala, English and Tamil....
, own by press baron D. R. Wijewardena
D. R. Wijewardena
Don Richard Wijewardena was a Sri Lankan press baron who was a leader in the Sri Lankan independence movement. A successful entrepreneur, he established the Lake House newspapers and played major role in the independence movement.-Family:D. R...
. He then became Ceylon's first city planner, when he was appointed to the newly created post of Architect and City Planner of Ceylon, as the head Ceylon's first Department of Town and Country Planning. In this capacity he was instrumental in the planning and development of the new city of Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura, , is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization.The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, on the banks of the historic...
in 1940's, it was a step to preserving the ancient city. He headed a committee to study housing development in the island and its recommendations lead to the creation of the Ministry for Housing in 1954.
In 1956, he joined the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and was later appointed as Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the United States. During his tenure he established four consulates and the Buddhist Temple of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
.
Oliver Weerasinghe married Christobel Kotalawala, the only daughter of Sir
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Henry Kotalawala, a member of the State Council of Ceylon
State Council of Ceylon
The State Council of Ceylon was the unicameral legislature for Ceylon , established in 1931 by the Donoughmore Constitution. The State Council gave universal adult franchise to the people of the colony for the first time...
from Uva and Badulla
Badulla
Badulla , is the capital of Uva Province, Sri Lanka. Badulla is located 60 km southeast of Kandy, almost encircled by the Badulu Oya River, about 680 metres above sea level and is surrounded by picturesque hills and mountains, most of which have tea plantations.-Geography:It is located on the...
for 28 years. Their son Rohan, is a Senior Managing Partner of a major global law firm and daughter, Menakka, is a former lecturer at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
.