Beruwala to get Lanka’s first Marina
With seven star hotel, aquarium, museum and
entertainment park:
Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA
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Beruwala fisheries harbour |
In keeping with the expected growth in the boat building industry,
the Ministry of Fisheries will construct Marinas in Beruwala and
Colombo. The country’s first Marina will be build adjoining Beruwala
fisheries harbour. These projects are at the infant stage and will be
completed with substantial investment both locally and internationally,
Boat Building Technology Improvement Institute Managing Director Gamini
B. Herath told Daily News Business .
“The land for the Beruwala Marina is ear marked. Once the proposal
stage is finalized there will be not only a boat park but aquarium,
museum and entertainment park. The highlight of the Beruwala marina will
be the seven star hotel planned to be built simultaneously,” he said.
The entire land complex of the proposed Marina will be integrated to
facilitate leisure, pleasure and commercial activities.
“We will promote Beruwala Marina as a yacht entry point and will set
up customs and immigration offices to facilitate the process. These are
on the pipeline and will be completed within a time frame after the
initial stages are finalized,” he said.
Two experts from the UK Mike Derret, a Marina expert and Simon Arrol,
a boat making and park expert who have experience in working in Dubai,
Thailand, Vietnam and China are having a detailed discussion regarding
these projects.
Discussions are underway to find investors for Beruwala Marina. The
Colombo Marina will follow with the finalization of Beruwala project
with the assistance of the Ministry of Fisheries, Ministry of Industry
and Commerce, Export Development Board where they closely monitor the
progress. Meanwhile the boat building industry has been identified as a
thrust industry where export earnings are expected to top 0.5 billion by
2015. Boat earnings from the sector have steadily increased over the
years and last year US $ 124 revenue was generated through exports.
The industry sees an upward trend in demand regarding the leisure and
pleasure sectors. The growth is expected to fuel by the recent decision
to ban import of second hand boats where local exporters will benefit on
the long run.
The government alsoplans to convert Galle harbour to a Tourist Port
with another Marina
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