Colombo Port city on reclaimed land
View(s):Looking up at the skyline would never be the same since this time it’s 100 stories high in a new city redefining Colombo’s skyline and adding to its landscape a shopping destination of the likes of Singapore’s Orchard Road.
Colombo’s new port city set to be established within the next 10 years on reclaimed land would be home to the country’s first 100-storied building and would also comprise shopping, leisure and recreational activities similar to Orchard Road in Singapore in addition to a waterway running through the city, Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Chairman Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama said.
This project was initiated due to the restrictions within the Colombo city providing quick links to the trade ports and airport, it was observed. He noted that the sea view would be blocked for only the Galadari Hotel and not the Galle Face.
Investments between US$20-25 billion would be made into this new project, and the city would be managed and run by a subsidiary of the SLPA that would act as a front end service provider, Dr. Wickrama said.
Other features of this new port city would be the establishment of a golf course and a racing track with greenery spanning an extent of nearly 80 acres that would be connected to the Galle Face Green and a marina area for yachts close to the Presidential Secretariat.
Considered to be the “Single largest investment in Sri Lanka,” there would be land reclamation of 230 hectares (560 acres) carried out while an investment of US$900 million would be in the form of a loan. The total project cost is $1.4 billion, Dr. Wickrama explained.
The city would have connectivity with the Katunayaka expressway in a bid to ensure that visitors could have easy access within a short time span.
Moreover, the area between the breakwater and the city would be calm for people to enjoy the seaside, it was stated.