Thursday 25 December 2014

We will replace Port City with Western Province Metropolis – Ranil

By Skandha Gunasekara and Shaahidah Riza

Ceylon Finance Today: Opposition and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said Tuesday that a government under him as Prime Minister would halt the port city which had been envisioned by the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government and replace it with a much larger 'Mega-polis' that would encompass the Western Province in its entirety.


Addressing the business forum, 'Lets Unite' held at Cinnamon Lakeside, Wickremesinghe alongside and Common Presidential Candidate Maithripala Sirisena addressed corporate leaders and senior business officials on the policies of a possible Sirisena Government would adopt.
The establishment of a 'Megapolis' was first suggested in 2002-2003, and the Port City was a small part of it. The 'Megapolis' project would transform the entire Western Province into a fully developed modern city."

He went on to say that the Port City project would not be stopped but halted temporarily.
"We haven't completely scrapped the Port City project. However, if we come to power we will first take into account the environmental impact report, as well as a feasibility study before we go further with the project." Wickremesinghe observed.


Wickremesinghe stressed, that environmental impact of any project was of vital importance when considering its implementation and that a Sirisena Government would take global warming into serious consideration. "We are looking into sustainable development. Global warming is a grave issue and we are seriously considering its impact on our economy. We will go green. The world is pivoting towards sustainable energy and development."

The Leader of the Opposition went on to say that feasibility of any project proposed by a government headed by Sirisena, would be taken into account citing the heavy debts incurred by the nation for the construction of the Hambantota Harbour and the Mattala Airport.

"Feasibility of any project will be of paramount importance. The country has billions in debt as a result of projects taken up without proper consideration," he noted.
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