Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa will declare open the new trade complex today.

Urban Development Authority, which carried out the renovation, has taken steps to conserve the historic value of the dilapidated structure during its conversion to a modern trade complex under the 'Developing the Colombo City' project.

The colonial building had suffered heavy damage in the LTTE bombing attack on the adjacent Central Bank building in 1996.

The government has spent around Rs. 100 million for the renovation that was conducted under the supervision of the Archaeological Department.

The new trade complex is expected to be a tourist attraction in Colombo city.