Channa Daswatte

 He is an architect practicing from Sri Lanka with work in India, Malaysia and east Africa. Began architectural education at the University of Moratuwa in October1984 and passed out with Bachelors degree in Built Environment with First Class honours in December 1987 and worked for an year with the architect C. Anjalendran. In 1988 joined the Bartlett School of Architecture at University College London and was awarded a Diploma in Architecture in 1990 and a Master of Science in Architecture with Distinction from the University of London in 1991.

Joined the Practice of the renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa in 1991 becoming a partner in the practice in 1997. During that time was closely involved with him in the construction of such projects as the renowned Kandalama Hotel in 1994 and eventually being called upon to refurbish it in 2006. Other projects have included the Lighthouse hotel, the Blue water hotel and the designs for a house for the head of state of Sri Lanka. In 1998 formed the Partnership MICD and have been involved in various projects including hotels schools and houses in Sri Lanka, India, Uganda and Malaysia. The work has been published in several Books and Magazines in Sri Lanka and abroad. Efforts with regards to conservation projects in the world heritage city of Galle were rewarded with an award of Distinction in the UNESCO Asia-pacific Heritage Awards of 2007 for the Galle Fort Hotel. Was design tutor and year person at the Colombo School of Architecture from 1992 to 2001 and a lecturer at the University of Moratuwa from 2002 to 2004, and continue to be part of the Visiting faculty at both institutions.

He has been the editor of the Journal of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects in 1998 and has also written extensively on architecture and design in Magazines in Sri Lanka and abroad and is regularly invited to speak at architectural gatherings in Sri Lanka and abroad. Writings have been published in several books and magazines and in 2006 together with Photographer Dominic Sansoni, published the book “Sri Lanka Style”.

He is a Trustee of the Geoffrey Bawa Trust and Lunuganga Trust which is active in the promotion of various aspects of art and architecture in Sri Lanka including the running of a triennial architectural award “The Geoffrey Bawa Award for Excellence in Architecture” to recognize architecture done in Sri Lanka. (www.geoffreybawa.com)