The newly established Gampaha District Secretariat Training Center on the upper floor of the 100-year-old Agra Walawwa was auspiciously opened on 18.06.2026.
In 2023, after the Gampaha Kachcheriya was established in the seven-story “Lak Siyane Mandira” building, the Agra Walawwa, which had been decommissioned, was completely renovated to preserve its antiquity.
As per the instructions and guidance of the Gampaha District Secretary/Government Agent Mr. Lalinda Gamage, this Walawwa was completely renovated and it was decided to establish the District Secretariat Training Unit on the upper floor of the Walawwa and to collect and maintain the legends and memories of the Gampaha District and Agra Walawwa in the lower floor as a museum.
Accordingly, the training unit, which was opened on 18.06.2026, consists of a computer lab with 25 computers and 02 lecture halls.
This ancient Agra Walawwa was built between 1925 - 1930 and its steps and ceilings are designed with beautiful wood carvings and ancient architectural styles.
Indian architects and workers have been employed for the construction of this Walawwa and this ancient Agra Walawwa, which belonged to the first Member of Parliament for the Gampaha District in the State Council, Mr. D.D. Karunaratne, was later taken over by the government. After being separated from the Colombo District and established as an administrative district of Gampaha, this “Agra” Walawwa was appointed as the Gampaha Kachcheri building in the year 1978.
The first film directed by veteran actor Gamini Fonseka in 1966, "Parasathu Mal", was shot at this Agra Walawwa.
Professor Samitha Manawadu, Professor of Architecture at the University of Moratuwa, provided the necessary consultancy for the renovation of this Walawwa, and the museum to be established on the ground floor of the Agra Walawwa in the future is also scheduled to be constructed under the consultancy of the professor.
The opening of this new training center was held with the participation of the Chairman of the Gampaha District Coordination Committee, Deputy Minister of Labor Mahinda Jayasinghe, District Secretary/Government Agent Lalinda Gamage, Professor of Architecture at the University of Moratuwa Samitha Manawadu, Additional District Secretaries of Gampaha, Deputy Election Commissioner Ravindra Wickramasinghe, heads of state institutions and a group of government officials in the district.
As the first training course, a training course on AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology was initiated for 20 government officials with special computer knowledge, including information technology officers. Expert external resource persons in the field were used for this.
In the future, it is expected that this Agra Walawwa will be provided with lecture halls and computer lab facilities for training courses in government institutions, public and private banks and the private sector. In addition, it is possible to reserve this hall for meetings of those institutions to view the historical architecture and unique wood carvings of the ancient Agra Walawwa, and the prices for this will be announced in the future. In addition, it is hoped that the Agra Walawwa will be made available for entertainment purposes such as films and teledrama, subject to conditions, and relevant information will be announced in the future, District Secretary/Government Agent Lalinda Gamage further stated at the media briefing.