• Unity Plaza unveils iconic triple-faced LED screen

The reveal didn’t happen with fireworks or fanfare. Instead, Colombo’s newest landmark introduced itself the way Colombo usually does; subtly, then all at once. As dusk settled over Bambalapitiya, the façade of Unity Plaza flickered to life, and conversations along Galle Road paused just long enough for commuters to look up. Amidst the heart of Colombo, where change often arrives quietly, this one was impossible to miss.

Unity Plaza, long known as Sri Lanka’s go-to address for cables, spare parts, and every conceivable piece of tech equipment, has officially stepped into a new era with the launch of the country’s largest triple-faced LED digital display. It’s a structure that now watches over three major approaches: Galle Road, Wellawatta, and Station Road, casting a vivid wash of colour across one of Colombo’s busiest corners.

But behind the bright visuals was a story that unfolded more like a gathering of old friends than a corporate milestone. Over 250 people streamed into the building on launch day, directors, longtime tenants, partners, and members of the media, many of whom had memories baked into the Plaza’s tiled floors. Some spoke about buying their computers here. Others remembered stepping into Unity Plaza as young technicians. And there they were again, watching the building reinvent itself.

A milestone years in the making

The new screen marks the culmination of a redevelopment journey that began back in November 2023. At the time, Unity Plaza was not trying to become futuristic; it was trying to stay relevant. The tech world evolves faster than most city landscapes, and for a building that had become synonymous with Sri Lanka’s IT story, embracing that next step was essential.

“This launch is not just about lighting up Colombo’s skyline,” said On’ally Holdings PLC Managing Director M. H. Jamaldeen, looking up at the beaming panels with a mix of pride and relief. “It reflects the spirit of innovation that continues to drive Unity Plaza’s evolution into Sri Lanka’s true IT hub.” He added that the installation isn’t merely a commercial billboard but “a digital landmark that connects brands, citizens, and the rhythm of the city in real time.”

It’s a lofty description, but even the guests who usually speak in quieter tones found themselves nodding along. Because if any building has earned the right to be called a landmark, it’s this one.

Built with global brains and local hands

What makes the new display particularly satisfying for those behind the project is the collaboration it represents.

The LED system itself arrived from China, manufactured by Charming & Co., an international name known for massive outdoor installations and precise engineering. But the installation – the part that required patience, adaptability, and a deep familiarity with the building’s quirks – was carried out by Unity Plaza’s own internal engineering team at On’ally Holdings.

One of the engineers, standing slightly off to the side during the launch, explained that the process took months of planning. “It was a lot more work than just attaching a few screens,” he said. “This building has been around for decades. We had to understand its bones before we could dress it in something this modern.”

The pride was unmistakable. Global expertise gave the Plaza its cutting-edge hardware, but Sri Lankan expertise made it fit.

A new kind of presence

In the heart of Colombo, it takes something special to stand out. The traffic is relentless, the architecture is a patchwork of eras, and the skyline is always trying to figure out what it wants to be. The triple-faced display breaks through that noise, not because of its size alone, but because of what it represents.

For years, Unity Plaza’s identity has been tied to the tech community. Students hunting for components, entrepreneurs trying to set up their first offices, everyday consumers looking for repairs – everyone knew where to go. This display doesn’t replace that story. It expands it.

With its ability to host dynamic content, real-time visuals, and high-definition campaigns, the screen positions the Plaza at the centre of Sri Lanka’s growing digital advertising scene. Marketers are already eyeing it as a high-impact space, but the screen’s presence does something deeper: it updates the city’s visual language.

Colombo has spent the past decade balancing modernisation with nostalgia. Buildings have gone up; others have faded into memory. This installation gives the city a clear point of connection: something contemporary that doesn’t erase the past, but reframes it.

A city corner reimagined

On launch night, as the final presentations wrapped and guests made their way out, the screen kept running through its first official cycle. Even in those early minutes, it was clear that passers-by couldn’t help but look up. Tuk drivers slowed, pedestrians paused, and a few people pulled out their phones. 

For M. H. Jamaldeen, this reaction wasn’t just encouraging; it validated the screen’s commercial purpose. “Brands need visibility that feels natural,” he said. “This location already sees some of the highest footfall and vehicle movement in Colombo. What the screen does is give businesses a way to reach people in real time, in a place they’re already looking. It strengthens Unity Plaza’s role as a tech hub, but it also gives companies a high-impact space that can actually move messages.”

He noted that the triple-faced design gives marketers three different vantage points and continuous circulation, something Colombo hasn’t had at this scale. “It’s both advertising and presence. And in this market, presence matters.”

As traffic thickened along Galle Road and the December evening settled into its usual rhythm, the screen blended into the scene as though it had always been there. No grand gesture, no dramatic finale, just a new piece of Colombo’s commercial fabric switching on and getting to work.

Unity Plaza has been part of Sri Lanka’s tech story for decades. With this new addition, it steps into a modern chapter, less about nostalgia, more about function, visibility, and the business of staying current in a city that moves quickly.

source: https://www.themorning.lk/articles/npmiWkbND0GDQguFinR8