Colombo Port city to be among the most sought after locations

by Shirajiv SIRIMANE

Ports and Highways Deputy Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardane

Chairman, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrema

From the time the first world map was drawn, Sri Lanka, then known as Thambapanni, was known as an island while the Maldives and several other countries were marked as clusters of islands. However, very soon, Sri Lanka too would have to undergo a ‘geographical name change’ from an ‘island nation’ to a country with two additional islands.

These two islands did not spring up naturally. They are being created. One is being created in Hambantota, using the material being excavated for building the second stage of the port in Hambantota.

The expansion project of the Colombo Port:   Some of the resources from this project have been used to fill the land for the proposed city

The plan for the Colombo Port expansion project

The island city

An artist's impression of the port city

How the Colombo Port City would look like

The second island would be a more prestigious venture. This is to construct a modern planned city within Colombo by reclaiming the sea in front of the Colombo Galle Face Green. The sea belt stretching from the new breakwater of the Colombo South Harbour to the Presidential Secretariat is being reclaimed to be used for this purpose.

No damage to turf

Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrema said that no damage will be caused to the turf at the Galle Face Green by this project.

The objective of the project is to turn the Colombo city in to a place with more facilities for the people and to construct the city according to a proper development plan.

The new city would be fully equipped with many recreational centres such as golf courses and tracks for motor car racing.

Dr. Wickrema said that in accordance with the intention of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to expand the Colombo City by having a modern city adjoining the Port, 500 acres of sea territory adjoining the new Colombo Port project will be land-filled.

He said that there will be three access roads to this modern city and one access road will be connected with the Marine Drive. The second road would be constructed opposite the Presidential Secretariat, and the Light House entrance of the Colombo Port would be upgraded as the third access road. There would be a long bridge to this island while a rail track is to be developed around the new city and would be the major mode of transport in the city.

The feasibility study and environmental impact assessment are being completed. The preliminary work on the planned city is expected to begin next month and is to be completed in three years.

Park and Drive

The ‘Park and Drive’ concept will be introduced in the city so that anyone entering the city will park their vehicles at specified locations and take a train to go around the city.

A project of this nature has become necessary due to problems being faced in the Colombo City including environmental pollution, blocking of the drainage systems, road traffic congestion and floods.

He said the SLPA would conduct the project with the technical assistance and consultancy services provided by the University of Moratuwa and Lanka Hydraulic Institute.The new city will have high-rise housing complexes, multiplex office buildings, hotels, shopping malls, tourist sites, recreation facilities, banks and other service centres among many more additions.

The filling of land for this project will be carried out by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority at a cost of US$ 250 million.

A section of the reclaimed land will be handed over to a Chinese company while the rest will be given to other investors under a 99-year lease, Ports and Highways Deputy Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardane said.

The new real estate will be among the most sought after locations in Colombo and is adjacent to star-class hotels including the US$ 500 million Shangri-La Hotel, which is still under construction.