Galle Fort Post Office: A Historic Hub

Galle Fort Post Office is a historic hub that has been serving the community for over two centuries.

Established in 1802, this post office is one of the oldest in Sri Lanka.

Located within the Galle Fort walls, it's a treasure trove of colonial history and architecture.

The post office has been well-preserved and still operates today, offering a glimpse into the past.

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The Galle Fort Post Office has a rich history, having been maintained by the Indian Trading company during the British period and later expanded into a commercial food store for over 100 years.

This historic building has undergone renovations in the past, including one by the Archaeology Department in 1998, another by the Central Cultural Fund in 2007, and a final one by the Postal Department in 2015/2016.

However, these renovations were not done using proper conservation methods for old heritage buildings, which has resulted in the deterioration of the historic building.

The government's plan is to transfer the building to the Galle Heritage Foundation for proper maintenance as an immediate remedial measure.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Management (CCEM) has directed the postal authorities to transfer the building to the Galle Heritage Foundation.

Proposals will be called from prospective bidders to renovate the building, preserving the ancient heritage and following the conservation principles stipulated by UNESCO and the Galle Heritage Foundation.

The renovated building is expected to resume postal services within its premises, and the proposal should include a clear design plan in accordance with the guidance given for the restoration of the site based on historic reasons.

The government's aim is to develop the city of Galle, renovate old buildings, and use them in a way to bring high revenue, not to sell it to the private sector to build a luxury hotel as claimed by the postal workers' trade unions.

The Galle Fort post office is a historic building that's been around for centuries, and it's now set to undergo its most significant renovation under the present government's plan.

The building was originally constructed and used by the Dutch Administrator as his official quarters, and it's had several renovations over the years, but not using proper conservation methods.

It's had renovations by the Archaeology Department in 1998, the Central Cultural Fund in 2007, and the Postal Department in 2015/2016, but these didn't follow proper conservation principles.

The building's deterioration is a result of these past renovations, and it's now in need of a proper restoration that will preserve its ancient heritage.

The government's plan is to transfer the building to the Galle Heritage Foundation for proper maintenance and to renovate it in a way that generates high revenue.

The proposal should include space allocation for the resumption of postal services within the premises, and it should be guided by the conservation principles stipulated by UNESCO and the Galle Heritage Foundation.

The government's aim is to develop the city of Galle, renovate old buildings, and use them in a way to bring high revenue, not to sell it to the private sector as some are claiming.

Conversion of old iconic state buildings into revenue-generating hotels is a trend worldwide, with a recent example being the post office hotel conversion in Washington, D.C.

Here's an interesting read: Old Town Main Post Office