Infrastructure: Port city to transform Colombo, boost facilities

(LBO) – Sri Lanka’s planned Port City project says its vision is to offer a modern and sustainable lifestyle without comprising services delivered to attract high net-worth individuals in the region.

Several hectares of public parks will increase facilities available to the public and the amount of commercial office space in Colombo will quadruple, officials said.

“We want to create a South Asian hub attractive to high net-worth individuals to set up a second home to live, work and play while also incorporating into the hub a world class business and financial centre, luxury residences, entertainment and lifestyle destinations,” Liang Thow Ming, chief sales and marketing officer, CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd said.

“Our city will be a blue and green city with a high quality environment founded on latest sustainable concepts and practices.”

He was speaking at the LBR LBO Infrastructure Summit 2016 themed “Realizing The Transformative Power of The Western Region Development: Opportunities and Challenges.”

Sri Lanka’s government officially informed the Chinese investors of resuming the construction of the Port City project in capital Colombo, in March 2016, one year after its suspension.

The project was under water for a long period of time as the new administration questioned project approvals by the last regime.

The Port City is to be constructed between the Southern edge of the new Colombo South Port and the Fort Lighthouse. The total area of sea to be reclaimed is 252 hectares.

The Port City is expected to boost the local economy by generating millions of dollars upon its completion and generate over 80,000 jobs and includes a marina and yacht club, a central boulevard, a sea view apartment complex and a five-star hotel, shopping and entertainment center, office space, a mini golf course, and many other modern facilities.

Thow Ming says the projects challenge is to have reliable and integrated infrastructure solutions where you connect water, energy and waste loops to reduce losses, increase recycling and recovery.

“We need to create the best balance between management on a central and a local level.”

“Use the eco cycle model as a tool to integrate infrastructure solutions and gain synergies integrate centralized systems for Port City i.e. waste handling of recyclables and water reservoirs.”

It will also use local solutions on a building level when optimal like energy solutions users’ awareness concerning their actions and the consequences they have are achieved through education and information on all levels, he added.