Port city in Colombo soon

by Surekha GALAGODA

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) will develop a port city in Colombo at a cost of Rs 450 mln.

Speaking at the P.B. Karandawela memorial lecture organised by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, SLPA Chairman Dr Priyath Bandu Wickrama said that work on the port city will start in March and it is expected that the land filling will be completed by 2014. The port city will have hotels, apartments, shopping malls and yacht marinas.

Once the filling is completed the private sector will be offered an opportunity to invest.

The government will use its own funds and also raise a loan and issue bonds, said Dr Wickrama.

The SLPA will establish a cargo village at Peliyagoda. At present there are warehouses owned by SLPA. Lands owned by the UDA will be taken over by the The SLPA while private companies will be encouraged to establish warehouses.

Access roads to port are being widened and there will be a rail link too.

He said that the work on the south harbour project is on schedule and the first terminal will be ready by 2013.

The Galle port will be converted to a tourist port within the next two years and will consist of a yacht marina and a private break water. The SLPA is planning to open the Oluvil port this year and it will cater to the needs of the Eastern region where deep sea fishing vessels will be anchored.

Dr Wickrama said that already the second phase of the Hambantota port has started. Bunkering services will start by May.

The port will have a commercial zone and an industrial zone. He said that the airport and the port will be connected with a dedicated express way. "Already we have received 27 proposals from international investors for investment projects at the Hambantota port and the proposals will be finalised by the end of the year", he said.