News & Events

The 13th AGM – Annual Symposium and Fellowship night was held on the 12th February 2023 at Hilton Colombo Residencies with the participation of all the Fellows, Members and Associate members. This year’s theme of the Symposium was “Nourished through the recession- A way forward for a sustainable future” and the event was graced by two renowned public figures, Mr. Vishwanath Buddhika Keerthisena (Boodee) and L.Arct. Chamara Janaraj Peris. This event can be considered as a novel and refreshing start to the SLILA journey and we, aspire to thrive as professionals by actively engaging in creating outdoor spaces and to achieve recognition by leading the planning, design, and stewardship of livable environments.

The completion of the 1st Charter Examination was held in September 2021 and 17 chartered members were absorbed into the SLILA as corporate members at the 12th Annual General Meeting held on 28th of November 2021. The 1st Charter batch was enrolled in January 2019 and the program was conducted in several sessions focusing the professional practice and ethics. The Chartered members are currently engaged in a variety of fields as Chartered Landscape Architects and as educators and contribute to the profession enormously.

The 1st charter batch of SLILA conducted an awareness programme via online on 22nd August 2021 from 4.00pm onwards, for fresh graduates at their juncture of stepping into the industry after completing the Honours degree of Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA). The awareness programme was conducted by Mr. Amithe Gamage, CEO coach, Personal branding strategist, Live streamer and sales performance evangelist and the program was mainly focused on the career path in the field and diversification, Employment and obtaining experience on competencies in the field of Landscape Architecture, developing soft skills, progression towards becoming a professional Landscape Architect, and maintaining ethical standards of a professional. It was intended that this program was a supportive guide for the degree holders of BLA to make their professional careers successful.

President & Council of Sri Lanka Institute of Landscape Architects (SLILA) met with Dr. Diane Menzies, Immediate Past President of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) on 14th August 2010. Dr. Menzies will deliver the first Continuing Professional Development lecture prior to the SLILA Annual General Meeting. on Sunday.

Institute of Landscape Architects (SLILA) was established on the 24th of July 2009 under act no.33 of 2009 which was published in the gazette notification of 12th June 2009. The ceremonial inauguration was held under the patronage of Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena (Minister of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development) who was instrumental in establishing SLILA, on 13th August 2009 at Diyawanna Lake, Waters Edge, Battaramulla amidst a distinguish gathering of professionals and well-wishers. The main objective of the institute as embodied in the act, are - To develop the profession of landscape architecture in Sri Lanka to internationally accepted standards. - To provide leadership and guidance to the profession to fulfill the much desired need of a professional in the field of sustainable development in the country. At present only the University of Moratuwa conducts an Undergraduate course in Landscape Architecture on par with the accredited courses in other countries. The very first Council members consisted with the following distinguished professionals. President – Mrs. Hester Basnayaka (former director, Environment and Landscape, Urban Development Authority /UDA) Vice President – Mr. Priyanka Ranathunga (Board of Investment), President-Elect – Archt. (Mrs.) Shirani Balasooriya (course director – landscape studies, University of Moratuwa), Secretary – Archt. (Mrs.) Shereen Amendra (Sun Consultants), Assistant Secretary – Mrs. Chandana Kalupahana (UDA), Treasurer – Mr. D. Hettiarachchi (Deputy Director, Environment and Landscape, UDA) Assistant Secretary – Mrs. Radha de silva (Former Director – UDA) Council member s – Mr. K.A.D Chandradasa (director-UDA ), Mr. Susira Udalamatta (University of Moratuwa), Mrs. Sanka Wimaladharma and Mrs. Wasana Dharmadasa (UDA).