Room for investors, business development in Colombo,
Greater Colombo, North, East:
Sustainable towns for Lanka
Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI
The Government has commenced city development projects in Greater
Colombo and in several major cities.
Chamber of Commerce Chairman Dr. Anura Ekanayake and Urban
Development Ministry Secretary Dr. P. Ramanujam at the
presentation. Chamber of Commerce CEO Haren Malwatte was
also present. Pictures by Sudath Nishantha |
The city development projects will see many opportunities for
investors and businesses in the near future.
Obstacles faced by private sector investors will be looked into and
addressed, Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh
Gunawardena said.
The National Fiscal Department has come up with acceptable plans and
the Ministry facilitated their process to achieve high goals.
The Minister was speaking at the “City Development Plans- Investment
Opportunities” Presentation organized by the Sri Lanka Shippers’ Council
jointly with the Urban Development Ministry at the Ceylon Chamber of
Commerce yesterday.
He said professionals and chambers should give attention to key
issues as private sector involvement is vital in theses projects. Six
presentations were held by eminent speakers on the Panchikawatte
Triangle Re-development Project, Colombo City and suburbs, Greater
Colombo Township Development, Greater Hambantota Development Project,
Regional Development Plan - Eastern Province and Northern Province.
Architect and Planner Surath Wickramasinghe speaking on the
Panchikawatte Project said 26 acres will be cleared and 2,040 shanties
will be relocated in Panchikawatte.
Thirty thousand apartments will come up to settle these people.
Architect Prasanna Silva |
Urban Development Authority Director General, Architect Prasanna
Silva speaking about Colombo suburbs said the zone plan commencing 2010
will be completed by 2020 with wider roads, a better traffic system and
more greenery. He said the Colombo City has to be developed with suburbs
and not in isolation.
Some projects such as transport infrastructure , residential and
commercial areas have been already identified.
The Greater Colombo Township Development Project Director Nishad
Dissanayake said nineteen acres of land has been identified to develop
public-private activities within the port and another four acre land
near the Central Bank.
The commercial property opposite the Nawaloka Hospital also will be
developed. Southern Province Planner Indu Weerasooriya said Hambantota
will be the gateway to Asia with all three modes of transport.
“Hambantota is rich in biodiversity, ecologically, archaeologically
and religiously. There is huge potential to enhance tourism,” he said.
National Physical Planning Department Director General J. M. J.
Jayasekera said Trincomalee, Ampara and Batticaloa will be developed by
the UDA as per the National Master Plan.
“The past glory can be restored with the development in Kalkudah,
Pasikudah and Arugam Bay beaches,” he said. |