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EIA gives nod to high-rise apartment complex on Weligama beach
Sri Lanka’s pristine beachfronts are drawing still more proposals for high-rise developments.
The latest is an eight-story, 106-unit apartment complex to be built at Pelena, South of Weligama, at an anticipated cost of US$ 10mn (Rs 1.8bn), according to an environmental impact assessment (EIA) opened for public review by the Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department (CCD) this week.
The EIA concludes that there are “no major negative structural, environmental and social impacts associated with the construction and operation of the proposed South Beach Weligama luxury apartment complex”.
But it warns of turtle nesting sites on the beach and recommends to the project proponent to incorporate measures to safeguard the turtles that lay their eggs on the beachfront.
“Conservation of the turtle nesting grounds is crucial to successful breeding and the continued survival of the species,” it states. “That means keeping the beach clean and quartering off nesting sites (based on long tracks leading to the nesting site) once identified by security or site personnel. Ensuring that construction and operational staff, and thereafter guests (during operations) are informed of the potential nesting by endangered mammals is crucial to their conservation.”
The development will be on private land owned by the project proponent, South Beach Weligama Properties (Pvt) Ltd, adjoining the A2 Colombo-Matara road in the Weligama tourist zone. Water will be largely through town supply.
The CCD has stipulated a 10m coastal setback for the swimming pool and a 15m setback for construction. The height of the proposed tallest main building is 36.075 metres. The tallest habitable floor, the penthouse, will stand at 29.975 metres.
Island Capital Asia (Pvt) Ltd is the majority shareholder of South Beach Weligama Properties (Pvt) Ltd. the EIA states, describing it as “a niche real estate investment that operates within the Asian region, with key projects in Sri Lanka such as the pioneering eco-resort Palgama Beach and Villa Weligama”.
The apartments are intended for local and foreign investors as a means of a high-rise holiday home, the EIA states. The project is currently in planning, with construction due to begin in June 2021, to be completed by April 2023.
While it was first intended to be a mixed development (incorporating both hotel and apartment features), the project proponent has scaled it down from the initial 34-room hotel and 99-apartment unit development to the present 106-apartment unit condominium development.
Residents will be able to buy the apartments outright with the option of renting out the units (on platforms such as Airbnb or other measures) either on a long-term basis or short-term basis for tourists or holiday-goers.
The project will be internally funded by South Beach Weligama Properties (Pvt) Ltd, the EIA says. A budgetary allocation of Rs 1mn has been allocated for the environmental management plan during construction with a contingency budget allowance for a further Rs5mn for potential impact mitigation measures should such become necessary.