Legal Experts Challenge Demolition of Historic S. Thomas’ College Dining Hall 🏛️

• Legal Status: Experts, including public interest litigator Dr. Ravindranath Dabare, state the planned demolition or modification of the Dining Hall is "manifestly illegal" under the Antiquities Ordinance No. 9 of 1940. • Historical Significance: Constructed between 1918 and 1922, the building exceeds the 100-year threshold, legally classifying it as an "ancient monument." • Legal Protection: Under Section 16 of the Ordinance, status as an antiquity is granted by age alone and does not require formal gazetting. Unauthorized structural alteration is considered a non-bailable criminal offense. • Project Details: The proposed work is part of the "Phase IV Senior Quadrangle" development, funded by a Rs. 600 million donation from philanthropist Eng. Nahil Wijesuriya. • Conservation Concerns: Critics argue the project threatens the architectural legacy of Warden William Arthur Stone and violates the school’s role as a "trustee" of national heritage for future generations. • Context: The controversy coincides with the school’s 175th anniversary, highlighting the tension between modern infrastructure development and heritage preservation in Sri Lanka. ⚖️