Colombo Port city to be among the most sought after locations
by Shirajiv SIRIMANE
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Ports and
Highways
Deputy Minister Rohitha
Abeygunawardane |
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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.
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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 |
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The plan for the Colombo Port expansion project |
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The island city |
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An artist's impression of the port city |
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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. |