160 hectares to be reclaimed from the sea along Kollupitiya to Dehiwala

File Photo

• Legislature to introduce new laws for Port City to be presented in a month
• Delay in implementing the Port City Project could delay the development 

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana 

A further 160 hectares of land will be reclaimed from the sea from Kollupitiya to Dehiwala, Minister of Megapolis and Western Development Patali Champika Ranawaka told Parliament yesterday. 

The Minister said the experience which the local engineers got reclaiming land from the sea for the Port City would be used to reclaim land from Kollupitiya to Dehiwala. 
“Almost 700 acres of land has been already reclaimed for the Port City successfully despite the claims made by environmentalists. We hope to reclaim a further 160 hectares from Kollupitiya to Dehiwala,” the Minister said. 

However, the Minister fell short of mentioning as for what this new land to be reclaimed would be used. 

Meanwhile, Non-Cabinet Minister Harsha De Silva said legislation to introduce new laws for the Port City would be presented to Cabinet in a month. 

He said the objective of the new legislation would be to introduce a tax structure and laws to attract investors including real-estate companies. 

He said the implementation of the Port City project was delayed when the present Government took over as there was an issue that a 50-acre plot was to be handed over to China on an outright sale. 

“Our Government was able to resolve this issue,” the non-cabinet Minister said. 

He said the Government took steps to resolve the issue in line with its electoral promise that no lands will be sold to foreigners. 

Meanwhile, UPFA Member of Parliament Sarath Amunugama said the delay in implementing the Port City project would have a negative effect on the country. 

“The delay in implementing the Port City Project could delay the development, which Sri Lanka needs,” he said. 

He said the present Government might have taken too much time to decide on the project when it came to office.  

Pic courtesy : Port City Colombo

“Almost 
700 acres 
of land has been already reclaimed for the Port City successfully despite the claims made by environmentalists. We hope to reclaim a further 
160 hectares 
from Kollupitiya to Dehiwala,” 
-Minister Ranawaka-