Architect Damith Premathilake of DPA Studio, Sri Lanka, has won the Gold Award at the Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA) Awards for Architecture (AAA) 2026, one of Asia’s prominent recognitions for architectural excellence.
The award-winning project, KAYA Holiday Retreat, is a luxury boutique retreat located in Diyathalawa. Set along the edge of a pine forest, the retreat was designed as a sustainable and environmentally sensitive development, with its architectural approach centred on creating harmony between the built environment and the surrounding natural landscape.
KAYA Holiday Retreat received the Gold Award in the Public Amenities: Resort Buildings category, competing against entries from Japan, China, India, Thailand and several other countries across Asia.
The award was presented on Friday, 11 September 2026, in conjunction with ARCASIA Forum 23, a major gathering of architects, industry leaders, academic institutions and other architectural professionals from across the region.
Organised by the Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA), the ARCASIA Awards for Architecture recognise outstanding architectural achievements across Asia. The awards celebrate projects that demonstrate design excellence and innovation while responding sensitively to their cultural, contextual and environmental settings.
Reflecting on the recognition, Archt. Damith Premathilake said, “This is certainly one of the most memorable milestones of my career. I am immensely proud to see a project from Sri Lanka recognized on one of Asia’s highest platforms for architectural excellence.”
The latest accolade adds to the international recognition received by KAYA Holiday Retreat. The project was previously recognised at the AIA International Awards 2025, organised by the International Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), along with several other international honours.
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