The reconstruction of Kirinda village in Sri Lanka is a 1 million USD charity program initiated and primarily financed from within Colliers International. The famous Japanese architect, Shigeru Ban, and his company, Shigeru Ban Architects, are donating their time to make this the absolute most professionally run Tsunami project in Sri Lanka.
The project comprises restoring a village – 67 houses for fishing families in Kirinda – that was destroyed by the storm in December 2004. The project is being realized in Kirinda, a small port on the south coast of Sri Lanka. The Colliers team is working very closely with the most senior advisors of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, simply because the project in Kirinda has now become the benchmark that other organizations, such as UN, US Agency for International Development (USAID) and numerous NGOs measure up against. The homes built as part of the Colliers project are not only environmentally friendly, but also are sizeable enough to be comfortably lived in. The construction involves natural materials, which means that the homes breathe and stay cool inside even when temperatures are scorching outside.
The first 36 families moved into these homes on the 30th of April, 2006. In December 2006, four more houses have been completed, and the construction of an additional five houses has begun. The goal is completed a total of 50 houses.
February 2007 Colliers village of Kirinda makes the final three at MIPIM real estate summit awards in March 2007 in Cannes, France.
February 2007 Plans are being drawn to make side walks, pavements and drains on the main road and by lanes.
March 2007 The Kirinda project wins an historic double at the MIPIM summit, receiving the best residential award and a special tribute.
Received : AWARD
April 2007 Kirinda is selected as a finalist for the 2007 Urban Land Instiute Awards for Excellence