AIA International Conference 2025 Sri Lanka
The Art within Architecture
9 - 11 October 2025
Program
See below for an overview of the program.
View the detailed Program Booklet here.
Day 0 Program | Day 1 Program | Day 2 Program | Day 3 Program
Day 0 - Wednesday 8 OCtober
Optional Extension tours are on offer via tour provider, Jetwing Travels.
To learn more and register, go to the Tours Page >>>
8:30 am - 5:30 pm - Tour 1A: Important Sights of Colombo
8:00 am - 4:30 pm - Tour 1B: Pettah Walk & Colombo Museum
Tours depart from Cinnamon Grand Hotel, 77 Sri Uttarananda Mawatha, Colombo 00300, Sri Lanka.
For international Full Conference ticket holders –
7:30 pm - Informal Meetup at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel.
Day 1 - THURsday 9 OCtober
Oak Room, Cinnamon Grand Hotel, 77 Sri Uttarananda Mawatha, Colombo 00300, Sri Lanka
7:30 - 9:00 am - Registration
8:15 am - Inauguration of the Conference
Assemble at main entrance of the Oak Room for Welcome Procession.
To feature Compere Savitri Rodrigo and Dance Ensemble.
Arrival of the Guest of Honour, Mayor of Colombo, Vrai Balthazaar
Arrival of the Guest of Honour, Former President H E Ranil Wickremersinghe
Arrival of the Guest of Honour, Former President H E Chandrika Kumaratunga
8:35 am - Lighting of the Traditional Oil Lamp
8:50 am - National Anthem, sung by Rohan & Ishan De Lanerolle, accompanied by Neranjan De Silva
9:00 am - Conference Welcome. Welcome speeches will be given by:
Yew Kee Cheong, AIA International President
Nela De Zoysa, AIA International Country Representative and Conference Chair
Evelyn Lee, AIA President.
9:25 am - Garden Typologies for the Mega City, Moshe Safdie
CES: Estimated 1 LU/ HSW for AIA Members.
10:15 am - Refreshments and Networking in the Lobby
10:40 am - Essence, Elizabeth Chu Richter, FAIA & David Richter, FAIA
CES: Estimated 0.5 LU for AIA Members.
11:25 am - A Rock in the Water, Billie Tsien
CES: Estimated 0.5 LU for AIA Members.
12:10 pm - An Architecture Of Coexistence, Channa Daswatte
CES: Estimated 0.5 LU/ HSW for AIA Members.
12:55 pm - Buddhika Hewawasam, Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourist Board
1:00 pm - Group Photograph
For international Full Conference ticket holders –
1:15 pm - Lunch, followed by tours.
Day 1 Tours
2:45 - 6:00pm - Tour 1 - Works Of Geoffrey Bawa - visiting Druvi De Saram House, Kannangara House and Geoffrey Bawa’s Colombo House and office.
CES: Estimated 2 LU/ HSW for AIA Members.
2:45 - 6:00pm - Tour 2 - Palinda Kannangara’s Studio Dwelling - look around the architect’s award-winning home and studio on a quiet waterside site in Rajagiriya.
CES: Estimated 1 LU/ HSW for AIA Members.
2:45 - 4:30pm - Tour 3 - American Embassy tour (TBC)
CES: Estimated 1 LU for AIA Members.
4:30pm - late - Tour 4 - Sunset Photography & Galle Face Hotel tour - enjoy the historic hotel, one of the oldest east of the Suez canal, the famous Galle Face Green and sea views at sunset.
CES: Estimated 1 LU for AIA Members.
Day 2 - Friday 10 OCtober
Oak Room, Cinnamon Grand Hotel, 77 Sri Uttarananda Mawatha, Colombo 00300, Sri Lanka
7:30 - 9:00 am - Registration available
8:00 am - Reimagining South Africa’s Parliament, Nadia Tromp
CES: Estimated 0.5 LU/ HSW for AIA Members.
8:35 am - The Beauty of Doing Less, Palinda Kannangara
CES: Estimated 0.5 LU/ HSW for AIA Members.
9:20 am - Art Within Architecture, Brinda Somaya
CES: Estimated 1 LU/ HSW for AIA Members.
10:10 am - Refreshments and Networking in the Lobby
10:35 am - The Art Within Architecture: light, gesture, city, Massimiliano Fuksas
CES: Estimated 1 LU for AIA Members.
11:25 am - Designing ecology-based architecture as biophilic design for our sustainable and resilient future, Dr. Ken Yeang
CES: Estimated 1 LU/ HSW for AIA Members.
12:10 pm - Architecture as Art, Murad Ismail & Shayan Kumaradas
CES: Estimated 1 LU for AIA Members.
For international Full Conference ticket holders –
1:15 pm - Lunch, followed by tours.
Day 2 Tours
2:45 - 6:00pm - Tour 1 - Works Of Geoffrey Bawa - visiting Druvi De Saram House, Kannangara House and Geoffrey Bawa’s Colombo House and office.
CES: Estimated 2 LU/ HSW for AIA Members.
2:45 - 6:00pm - Tour 2 - Palinda Kannangara’s Studio Dwelling - look around the architect’s award-winning home and studio on a quiet waterside site in Rajagiriya.
CES: Estimated 1 LU/ HSW for AIA Members.
2:45 - 6:00pm - Tour 3 - British High Commission tour
CES: Estimated 1 LU for AIA Members.
4:30pm - late - Tour 4 - Sunset Photography & Galle Face Hotel tour - enjoy the historic hotel, one of the oldest east of the Suez canal, the famous Galle Face Green and sea views at sunset.
CES: Estimated 1 LU for AIA Members.
Day 3 - Saturday 11 OCtober
Oak Room, Cinnamon Grand Hotel, 77 Sri Uttarananda Mawatha, Colombo 00300, Sri Lanka
8:30 am - Coming Back Home, Rafiq Azam
CES: Estimated 0.5 LU/ HSW for AIA Members.
9:05 am - Panel Discussion, Russell Dandeniya, Adrianta Aziz and Fawad Abbasi
CES: Estimated 1 LU for AIA Members.
10:05 am - Architecture in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, Neil Leach
CES: Estimated 0.5 LU for AIA Members.
10:40 am - Refreshments and Networking in the Lobby
11:00 am - Art Within Architecture, Simon Yu
CES: Estimated 1 LU/ HSW for AIA Members.
11:50 pm - AIA International Sponsor - Roca Laufen
11:55 am - Session 5, Philip Weeraratne
CES: Estimated 0.5 LU for AIA Members.
12:30 pm - The Art of Feng-Shui and Its Relationship to Modern Architecture in Taiwan, Li-Ren Hsiao
CES: Estimated 0.5 LU for AIA Members.
1:05 pm - Vote of Thanks
1:30 pm - Lunch
2:45 - 4:15 pm - AIA International Design Awards
7:30 pm - Gala Dinner in the Oak Room
Dress Code: Formal
From 12 October, further Optional Extension tours are on offer via tour provider, Jetwing Travels.
To learn more and register, go to the Tours Page >>>.
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