Economic Impact Assessment of the Port City Colombo, PwC report presented by PwC Sri Lanka CEO Sujeewa Mudalige (third from left) to CPCEC Chairman Gamini Marapana. From left: CPCEC Acting Director-General Saliya Wickramasuriya, Water Supply Ministry Secretary Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama, Orel Corporation Chairman Kushan Kodituwakku and McLarens Group Chairman Rohan de Silva looks on – Pic by Ruwan Walpola 

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) yesterday presented its latest assessment of the Port City’s economic impact to the Economic Commission. The assessment evaluates the potential impact of the Port City Colombo across five key macroeconomic variables: Employment, Gross Domestic Product, Foreign Direct Investment, Balance of Payments and Government Revenue.

Having initiated the original report in early 2020, the November 2021 update explores the effect of the Special Economic Zone status conferred by way of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act and the ‘Five-Year Plot Roll-out Strategy’ of CHEC Port City Colombo Ltd. – the Project Company. 

The Port City is envisaged to be focused on high value modern services such as ICT (Information and Communication Technology), maritime services, financial services and other professional services by leveraging Sri Lanka’s strategic location amongst a fast-growing region, skilled talent pool, low-cost environment and the ease of doing business offered by the SEZ legislation. 

As an oceanfront extension of the existing Colombo CBD (Central Business District), the Port City is also expected to have a strong destination appeal for city tourism. The five land plots earmarked in the Master Plan for luxury city hotels and an integrated resort could add a room inventory of 2,900 keys to complement MICE, yachting, medical value travel, and business and leisure travellers.

Considering the mammoth scale of this urban development project, completion is expected progressively over the next 20 years, attracting as much as $ 12.7 billion in additional investment. Providing a globally competitive business environment will be a prerequisite in attracting FDIs, which could help the development of the Port City (and the country) take-off to the expected levels.

The analysis clearly shows that Sri Lanka benefits significantly by the Port City development project, provided construction and operational stages proceed as planned. The PwC report adds that both construction and operational stages will contribute to the national economy directly and indirectly if the Port City project is integrated in a comprehensive manner with the local economy, and that it could also be a catalyst for future development in Sri Lanka.

The full report will be made available via PwC’s website and social media channels.

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