Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa emphasized that preserving the historic Nuwara Eliya Post Office is not merely about restoring an old building, but a task of national significance that protects national heritage and adds new value to the country’s tourism industry.
The Minister made these remarks after laying the foundation stone for a new two-storey postal administration building in the Nuwara Eliya Post Office premises, estimated at a cost of Rs. 78.34 million. Following the foundation stone laying, the Minister inspected the conservation and development activities of the historic post office, which is built in the English Tudor architectural style using red bricks dating back to the British colonial era.
The conservation work is being carried out with the labor contribution of the Sri Lanka Navy under the supervision of the Department of Buildings and the Department of Archaeology, with plans to develop the building into a tourist promotion center providing information and guidance on local and foreign tourist attractions upon completion.
The new building is being constructed to house the Nuwara Eliya Regional Superintendent of Post Office’s Office and the postal operations division. Furthermore, Rs. 600 million has been allocated for postal office repairs and conservation work in 2026, encompassing the Nuwara Eliya Post Office and 88 post offices islandwide. The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr. Madhura Seneviratne, Nuwara Eliya District Secretary Thushari Tennakoon, Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara, and other officials. (Newswire)