World Trade Center

  

The Word Trade Center of Colombo, located in the heart of the city, is a centre-point of trade and business. As one of the most exclusive business addresses in Sri Lanka, this 152m tall commercial landmark has two 39 story towers connected by the 4 story retail block that they stand over, bringing the total floor count to 43. With over 750,000 square feet of prime office and retail space, state-of-the-art facilities, superb dining, convenient shopping, and spectacular vistas in a "One Stop Shop" concept; the twin structure holds over 120 local, international and multinational brand names that makes it one of the most important buildings in Colombo.

What is a WTC?

A World Trade Center is a recognizable symbol of locally focused economic strength in world commerce. A World Trade Center (WTC) brings together private and public agencies involved in international trade, provides essential trade services and stimulates the economy of the region it serves. All the services associated with global commerce are conveniently brought together under one roof. Businesses are afforded prime and continuous access and exposure to all the services, organizations and individuals essential for success in world trade simply by having a WTC address. A World Trade Center in any city is a business and shopping center, complementing and supporting the existing services of private and government agencies. – AN EXCERPT FROM https://www.wtc.lk/what_is_a_wtc.html.

History

The concept of World Trade Centre, Colombo began in 1993; when the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), contracted with the developer, Overseas Realty (Ceylon) PLC (ORCL), to build a World Trade Center in Colombo.

The WTCA is a not-for-profit and non-political association dedicated to the promotion and facilitation of world trade. It has members in over 300 cities and 90 countries providing a powerful network with an array of information and services. The network is extended by more than 75,000 companies who are affiliated to WTCA members around the world. The Association offers innovative services to the international business sector, while also establishing and successfully operating various World Trade Centers around the world. Most well known amongst their members is the famous World Trade Center of US which was attacked by the suicide bombing in 2011.

Overseas Realty (Ceylon) PLC (ORCL) had its own strong roots as a BOI flagship company that was incorporated in Sri Lanka in 1980 in order to do property investments, property development, trading and management. As an organization with 93% of its share capital held by the Singapore real estate giant, Shing Kwan Group, ORCL makes full use of the Group’s expertise in property development, architecture and engineering, project management, marketing, leasing and facilities management.

When these these major organizations got together for a session of brainstorming, there were fireworks, and the concept for building a World Trade Centre in Colombo was born. Over the next three years, ORCL put it’s heart and soul into creating a skyscraper in one of the most eli