Before 2009, Colombo city was dirty, scary and polluted. Visiting Colombo was unsafe then because no one knew at what time and where a bomb could go off killing hundreds of people while permanently disabling many others. This situation resulted in the city becoming dirty because cleanliness was given an insignificant place in the midst of security threats. Development and modernisation became less important in the middle of LTTE threats. But, after 2009, the insecure environment in the country ended with the humanitarian operation and people started leading a normal life.
As per the modernisation plan of the Urban Development Authority (UDA), a giant commercial complex with five floors was constructed by using the labour strength of the Regiment of Fourth Engineering Service of the Sri Lanka Army in 2014 under the guidance of then Defence and Urban Development Secretary and the present President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The Colombo Gold Centre accommodates 83 gold and jewellery shops, three banks and a branch of the Gem and Jewellery Authority to certify the genuineness of gems and jewellery. The local gold market received a new strength with the opening of the centre. Earlier, the gold market was scattered across the city. It was a tiring trip for customers to go from one shop to another, travelling by buses or their own vehicles, crossing roads and becoming victims of burglars.
The Colombo Gold Centre consists of a food court to satiate the hunger of customers in a relaxing, free and safe environment, an air-conditioned lobby area and a free vehicle parking facility which is a necessity for both customers and traders. This Gold Centre is also strengthened with free Wi-Fi technology. It was before 2015 that free Wi-Fi was provided for the centre.
The prevention of the risk of burglary in the industry of gem and jewellery, which is like ‘the peel to a tree’, has also been considered by the architects of this centre. It shows the farsighted vision of the person who provided guidance for the key development projects launched by the Defence and Urban Development Ministry.
Each and every corner, including all common areas, of the Gold Centre is observed by CCTV camera systems throughout the day. Police also provides security for safeguarding the clients and the property. Therefore, there is no room for any type of burglary at this centre.
Purchasing of gold jewellery requires a considerable amount of cash in hand; due to the facility of banking units at the Gold Centre, that requirement can also be fulfilled easily without going out for banking activities. Because of these well-organised internal services, customer protection is guaranteed while saving their time and effort. A customer who visits this centre with empty hands can take money from any bank and purchase gold according to his or her wish without worrying about their safety as well as the purchased gold, because burglars cannot reach customers without being traced.
Unfortunately, with the change of the Government in 2015, the rate of purchasing gold went down drastically since people could not afford to purchase gold or at least the essentials due to various types of taxes imposed on almost everything by that Government.
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