Govt releases supplementary environmental impact assessment report for Colombo Port City project

The Government has released the ‘Supplementary Environmental Impact Assessment’ (SEIA) done by the developers of the suspended Colombo Port City project to the public.

The additional study was conducted to cover gaps in the initial Environmental Impact Assessment that was carried out by developers when they were awarded the project by the previous government on the submission of an unsolicited proposal. The project was suspended earlier this year pending a fresh review. The submission of the SEIA indicates that the process has moved forward.

The SEIA report has now been submitted to the Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department by the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development. A gazette notification in this regard was issued on Monday while a public notice has been published in newspapers today (December 1).

The public may access the document at one of eleven locations and provide their comments. The report is being released under section 16 (1) of the Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Act which states that: “Upon receipt of an application for a permit to engage in a development activity within the Coastal Zone, the Director may require the applicant to furnish an environmental impact assessment relating to such development activity and it shall be the duty of the applicant to comply with such requirement. Every environmental impact assessment furnished under this section shall contain such particulars as may be prescribed.