Sep 17, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s technological park, Orion City, is to add one million square feet to its current facility with an investment of nearly 70 million US dollars, an official said.
The Park, which was once a factory, is spread over 16 acres and currently has 550,000 square feet of developed space, where 29 international companies are based.
The company’s overall plan is a three million square foot facility.
“We feel that there will be a strong demand for IT and BPO sector. But if the next phase is not taken positively, we will probably be slowed down,” Jeevan Gnanam, chief executive of Orion City told LBO at the launch of company’s second phase of expansion.
“Our overall plan is to push the square feet expansion to three million.”
Expansion of the Park includes two new buildings that will be completed in the 1st quarter and 3rd quarter of 2016.
These buildings will add 225,000 square feet of office space and 250,000 personnel to the current Park, the company web site said.
The company also plans to build Orion Towers which will offer up to 22 levels of prime office space and will boast an array of complementary and ancillary facilities such as retail and commercial areas, a boutique sky hotel, green eco decks and a sky courtyard which will become a micro city catering to employees every need.
“We also managed to get coffee bean, British council, subway in to the city, to give an experience of a mini city and add value,” Gnanam said.
“We have already started mapping clients in other countries to offer our facilities.”
An executive club at the top most floor of the towers will host a fully equipped gymnasium, business centre, lounge areas, meeting venues and private dining facilities.
Leading the development, Tower 1 is bound for completion by end of 2017.
hope they can invest some money on improving public transport around the IT park. Getting here is a nightmare during peak hours…
Still I can remember my memories 30 years back when I was in Cyntex closely work with your grand father Mr A Y S Gnannam and Mr Gunaseelan – Any way you have turn the business in a different profitable way a business turned in to global sector and its nice to see the development . I propose the name of MR A Y S Gnanam – The leading industrialist name to be somewhere in your massive project as a RESPECT for him please – Former Accountant in cyntex – Janaka Peiris -0711-369548
This is really exciting news for the IT/BPM Industry in Sri Lanka. With the govt committing a huge amount of funds to develop the industry, and the private sector coming to the party…we look forward to exciting times a ahead. Kudos to Orion City for having the gall to invest in such a huge project!
Awesome project well done Orion City
Proud to be a part of this Awesome group.. Well done Orion
Great. World is moving towards Digital economy. We have to create a Digital ecosystem. This move will help to move towards that. It will provide our youth exciting jobs and help to increase our exports. Great future ahead.
Well done Jeevan. I better get on with the rest of the introductions. Looking forward to visiting your expanded facilities when I am next in Sri Lanka
Brilliant work by Orion City! The future of digital in Sri Lanka is looking great!
The future of Digital looks bright indeed.
Brilliant work Orion City
This is great news. However, I strongly feel that Orion City management should improve on their current facilities. If I list down the things that they need to improve,
1. Parking – Due to the constructions, most of the allotted parking slots are gone..! Alternatives were provided but very minimal. Hassle to employees is at max due to this.
2. Food Court Hygiene – Food court is full of cheap non-hygienic vendors. Some of the food joints are just like the shops around Slave Island. This is not really in part with the international standards that are being discussed outside.
3. Internal Roads – Roads are full of humps. Every 100 meters there is a hump. Every junction there are at least 2 humps. What is annoying is the height of them. If you drive a Prius or a low profile vehicle with a couple of passengers, humps scratching the bottom of the car is inevitable.
4. Road Signs and attitude of security staff – Virtusa has a designated internal car park. However when its full, “Car Park” full sign is placed right in the middle of the road where vehicles from other offices also circulate. At the sign, vehicles coming in has to wait until the car on the other side passes. This was informed to Orion City head of security and the answer was “We have no other place to keep it”
5. Lack of public transportation around – As they say, 29 international companies are already based in there. However there is very much lack of interest in improving the public transportation around the facility. This would have been a great value addition to all the IT professionals working within the facility.
6. Gymnasium – This is one of the most expensive gymnasiums around the city of Colombo. Hope they can bring down the charges a little or go with a corporate membership option with their tenants.
DO NOT COME TO THIS PLACE.. FOR ANY NEW COMPANY PLANS TO COME THIS PLACE PLEASE AVOID THIS PLACE. THEY PROMISE YOU SUN AND MOON BUT WHEN MOVE’S NOTHING GIVEN. NOW COMPANIES ARE SUFFERING SINCE THERE UN PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOUR. NO PARKING FOR PEOPLE ( THEY ADVERTISE THEY HAVE AMPLE PARKING SPACE ) BUT NOW MANY COMPANIES ASKED THERE EMPLOYEES TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT. WASH ROOMS ARE MADE OF COST CUTTING SO TO GET OUT FROM THEM YOU NEED TO STAND UP IN THE TOILET SEAT, MANY TIMES EMPLOYEES GOT STUCK IN THE ELEVATORS FOR HOURS BEFORE RESCUE , RAINY DAYS YOU NEED A BOAT TO MOVE , TOO MUCH OF SIGN BOARDS FIXED AND MANY TIMES THEY HAVE FALLEN TO VISITORS VEHICLES. NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES COMPLAINED THEY NEVER FIX THESE ISSUES AND MANY MORE. EVERY TIME MANAGEMENT GIVE MANY EXCUSES AS SCAPEGOATS. EVERY DAY GET THE SAME ANSWER ” WE ARE WORKING ON IT ‘ ( FOR THE LAST 6-7 YEARS THIS IS SAME ). SO OUR COMPANY IS MOVING OUT HERE NEAR FEATURE SINCE OF THESE UN-ENDING ISSUES… SO PLEASE PLEASE DOT GET FOOLED BY THERE WORDS… YOU WILL REGRET IT EVERY DAY.. PLEASE AVOID THIS PLACE…….. GOD BLESS YOU…
Brilliant work by Orion City!
Good to hear this kind of work, Keep it up
This Is a great project for Sri Lanka spécially for the futur generation.IT park Will certainly incite foreign countries it invest in Sri Lanka.
great news for the IT industry personals. 🙂
Must improve the parking facility around the technological park, Orion City
A valuable addition to the Sri Lankan IT sector. Congrats
Well done Mr. Jeevan Gnanam
Need a way to turn into orion city from baseline first.. lol
Expanding the institution
is really appreciated. Indeed, it is doubtful whether the institution will
ensure the rights of workers at work place and labour laws are been applied. It
is very pathetic that the workers are really exploited and future expansion
will lead to more grievances, since it is unsure that the upcoming younger generation
is fully about aware of their rights???
It may be very nice to see once completed the project . Still I can remember the former Cyntex Building where we worked loosely worked with Mr A Y S Gnanam the leading industrialist .