Land Reclamation Corporation given wider powers

Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill received House approval yesterday in Parliament enabling the proposed name change of the institution to Sri Lanka Land and Development Corporation to broaden its scope.

Moving the motion, Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka held based on the present day requirements it is no longer required to fill land. 

“This organisation is important for the environmental aspect, protecting wetlands and developing them, and also to manage lands effectively for development requirements of the country. We are compelled to face floods due to heavy rain. So, flood control is an important part. The Parliament was also flooded in 2010. We have to channel rainwater to the sea and also should be able to predict floods. Our Centre for Real-time Prediction tables to issue predictions 48 hours before. Recently the Animal Planet channel conducted a program on 18 wildcats living in near the Parliament in a special area allocated for animals,” he said.

According to the Minister, the Government has already started constructing two tunnels in Northern Colombo and connecting the Independent Square to Bambalapitiya under World Bank support. In addition, two canals are built in Kynsey Road and next to the Borella Cemetery along with establishing three pump stations in Nagalagam Street, St. Sebastian Sluice Gate, and in Kaduwela.

“The Beira Lake and the remaining area is developed by providing the illegal residents new houses. We should be able to establish another pump station near the Presidential Secretariat by next year to empty the Beira Lake from time to time to purify. All this is done using local engineering knowledge. Even though it is not under our purview, the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation we have maintained a garbage retaining centre for the Colombo Municipal Council. We have already given approval for projects to generate electricity from the garbage. One project will be in operation in October this year,” he added requesting the public to hand over garbage to collection centres. 

Streamlining the sand supply in the country, the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation has supplied 33,000 cubes in 2014. This has increased to 255,000 cubes in 2018. “Our target is to increase this to 500,000 cubes by the end of this year. These are the washed and refined sea sands. We were able to gain some new experience from the Port City project that spans over 700 acres. The next plan is to reclaim 160 hectares from Colpetty to Dehiwala,” said the Minister.

United People’s Freedom Alliance MP Dr Sarath Amunugama in response commended the contribution of Minister Ranawaka to the country by identifying him as the most efficient minister in the current government.

“The world is changing with urbanisation, which leads to the environment and many other issues. The Port City, which was criticised before happens to be the best decision taken during the recent past. This Government delayed the Port City construction by one year. If this delay was not there we would have gone far. I am not sure if you have seen the huge machines used in the Port City. This is the first time we see a large number of such massive cranes in operation in Sri Lanka. I request the Government to change the public opinion on the Port City as a beneficial project for the country,” he said requesting the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation to publicise the details of the development plans in detail.

“The Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation was established using some of the equipment used for the Mahaweli Development Program under late Gamini Dissanayake. According to the latest annual report of the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation, you could make more money from developing land in the city limits for housing,” he added.

Joining the debate, Non-Cabinet Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution Dr. Harsha de Silva accepted Minister Ranawaka is an efficient member in the Cabinet who proved by turning around the electricity board and several other state establishments, which were loss-making.“Compared to the vision of the Ministry some members of your Ministry act with a different vision. For example, there is construction taking place near this Parliament has gone on to compacting 80% using the sea sands. By doing so, it prevents water retention. How was this allowed? I suggest the Minister look into this? In a certain location near the Parliament, a canal is filled forcefully. They come out with various excuses, which tarnish the public trust in this particular organisation. Changing the name alone will not help to uplift the institution,” held de Silva criticising the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation. “In terms of Port City, it is good to see that the Opposition accepted it as a good project. There was a delay in the construction where the previous Government has agreed to sell 50 acres in the port city to the construction company. We had to renegotiate and arrive at a different agreement. Now that we have completed the construction of the Port City right on schedule, we are at the verge of drafting laws for this new land area. During the coming weeks, we expect to obtain Cabinet approval,” he added.

(AH)