British royal coat of arms on Lefkoşa courthouse building has stood without protective screen for six months

The British royal coat of arms at the entrance to the courthouse building on Sarayönü Square in Lefkoşa has been without an intact protective screen for about six months. The transparent panel that protected it from rain and sun was broken back in May and has not been replaced since.

The courthouse building stands on the main tourist route through the capital of the TRNC, so both tourists and local residents see the broken screen.

The complex was built between 1900 and 1904 on the site of the demolished Lusignan Palace and features typical British colonial architecture. During the colonial period, the administration placed the royal coat of arms above the entrances to courthouses, post offices and commissariats.

Today, the building houses the Supreme Court of the TRNC, the Lefkoşa District Court and the Office of the Attorney General. The coat of arms was left in place as a historical monument; for many years, it was covered by a transparent plastic panel.

Neighbouring traders believe that the screen should either be removed completely or replaced, as its current appearance spoils the overall impression. The condition of the coat of arms had also been reported previously, but the panel remained unchanged.