Govt. sketches new ‘Maritime City’

• Plan extends from Colombo Port to Wellawatte
• Discussions with Chinese party for fresh development under new guidelines, wants Megapolis Authority for better monitoring

By Charumini de Silva

The Government has sketched out a new ‘Maritime City’ in its grand strategy to develop and convert the entire Western Province into a single Megapolis.  

According to Megapolis and Western Development Minister Champika Ranawaka, the new Maritime City plan extends from Colombo Port to Wellawatte.

As far as the Chinese Port City project is concerned, the Minister pointed that they had prepared a complete plan for the entire Maritime City and were now having discussions with them.

“This Chinese Port City project is in the southern part of the Colombo Harbour and we have prepared a complete plan for the entire Maritime City, where we are now having discussions with them as to how it could fit into their plan and to our plan,” said Ranawaka.  

The Minister said the Maritime City would commence under a new set of guidelines as soon as the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Even though the Megapolis plan was conceptualised in 2002, there was lack of attention to economic, social, and environmental issues, he noted.  

“In 2002, the Singaporean firm Cesma prepared a complete Megapolis plan to develop the entire Western Province, but it lacked an inclusive development attitude. However, in the new plan we have especially included economic, social and environment impact assessments considering all factors,” he added

He also said that the entire marine area from Negombo to Aluthgama would be developed as a tourism city. 

The Minister also highlighted the need for establishing a Megapolis Authority to implement and attend to project proposals in a much more responsible manner. 

“There is nothing called Megapolis Authority and it is just a project office. I think it would be better to establish a new Megapolis Authority to oversee all the issues as we could then take the responsibility and deliver results in a more productive manner.” 

The Minister made these remarks making a presentation on ‘The Vision of Megapolis and Investment Opportunities’ organised by the Sri Lanka-Italy Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in Colombo.

As far as the timeline is concerned, the Minister said that they had identified a few projects relating to traffic congestion, waste management and resettling of shanty dwellers that should commence immediately. 

“We have already submitted a plan to the Economic Management Committee to be approved by the Cabinet of Ministers to implement and attend to those projects soon,” he noted.