Port City Project to be Accelerated 

As the Chinese funded ‘Port City’ project would provide 68,000 new job opportunities for the Sri Lankan youths, measures have been taken to speed up the Project, says director of the project – Nihal Fernando.

Thenew Development Control Regulations (DCR) was first presented to Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka and the Urban Development Authority for appraisal.

Accordingly, new Development Control Regulations (DCR) were unveiled recently in Colombo at an event themed ‘Roadmap to Prosperity’ and would provide a clear mechanism for the implementation of the master plan and refine it further through urban design guidelines, he said.

Surbana Jurong, one of Asia’s largest urban, industrial and infrastructure consulting firms based in Singapore and Atkins, the UK’s largest engineering consultancy, were brought on board by the project company to prepare the DCR to the existing Master Plan, which was originally done by Swedish-based planning consultant, SWECO.

The Port city would be an extension of the existing city’s central business district, with 5 new districts including, the financial district, the marina, international island, central park living and island living and each district offers a good mix of uses for a “live work play” environment.

Parks and open spaces, waterfront promenades, public plazas and active street edges all along the central boulevard allow for recreational facilities, within walking distances and promote healthy lifestyles that will appeal to all ages and all people, who aspire to live in the heart of the city