China-funded mega port city to help generate new business in Sri Lanka: report

COLOMBO - A mega China funded Port City project in the capital will help generate new investments and new buyers of real-estate in new businesses in Sri Lanka, the China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC) said on Tuesday, citing a report.

In a media release, the CHEC noted that the recently released Supplementary Environmental Impact Report (SEIA) for the Colombo Port City (CPC) project said that the main objective of the Port City was to create a regional business hub - a distinctly branded city, with high quality public spaces and infrastructure facilities, which would attract local and international developers and investors.

"The report states that the Colombo Port City has the capacity to contribute towards service sector oriented growth and development by attracting high profile FDI's and generating a wide range of direct and indirect benefits to the national economy," the release said.

The project, which is to be implemented over a 25-year period, does not involve replacing any economic activities in the area of its location or its immediate neighborhood. Thus, the benefit generated by the entire reclaimed land becomes an additional asset to Sri Lanka as a result of a Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), the release said.

The $1.4 billion mega Port City project funded by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) Ltd was suspended in March this year after concerns were raised over some aspects of the project.

However after a recently concluded SEIA report conducted by an independent committee, the project was given the go ahead by the Sri Lankan government and is now expected to resume in February.

According to the CHEC, the positive impacts of the project include employment creation, enhanced foreign investment, positive revenue generation to the government, transfer of technology and value added contribution to the national economy.

The SEIA report further states that the proposed Port City has the capacity to significantly contribute to the economic well-being of the Colombo city and the Colombo Metropolitan Region (CMR).