![Sri Lanka Western Province locator map](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Sri_Lanka_Western_Province_locator_map.svg)
The Western Region Megapolis is an urban planning, zoning, and development area stretching from
Negombo
Negombo (, ) is a major city in Sri Lanka, situated on the west coast and at the mouth of the Negombo Lagoon, in Western Province, from Colombo via Colombo - Katunayake Expressway.
Negombo is one of the major commercial hubs in the country and ...
in the north to
Beruwala
Beruwala ( Sinhala:බේරුවල Tamil: பேருவளை) is a large town in Kalutara District, Western Province, Sri Lanka, governed by an Urban Council. The town covers a total area of approximately and is located on the south-west ...
in the south. It is designed to create a
megapolis in
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
's
Western Province
Western Province or West Province may refer to:
*Western Province, Cameroon
*Western Province, Rwanda
*Western Province (Kenya)
*Western Province (Papua New Guinea)
*Western Province (Solomon Islands)
*Western Province, Sri Lanka
*Western Provinc ...
by 2030.
The plan was created by
Surbana in cooperation with local experts. It hopes to create a Megacity that can match other economic hubs, such as
Dubai
Dubai (, ; ar, دبي, translit=Dubayy, , ) is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, the most populated of the 7 emirates of the United Arab Emirates.The Government and Politics of ...
,
Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...
,
Seoul
Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...
and
Tokyo
Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...
, and solve the issues of traffic congestion, garbage, slums, and environmental pollution. The project aims to foster economic growth and prosperity, good governance, the creation of an efficient and well-planned region, social equity and harmony, and environmental sustainability.
The project includes social infrastructure development such as housing, healthcare, education, spiritual development, safety and security, transportation and traffic management, airport and port development, water- and energy-related infrastructure development, and the development of
SMEs
Superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) systems store energy in the magnetic field created by the flow of direct current in a Superconductivity, superconducting coil which has been Cryogenics, cryogenically cooled to a temperature below ...
, industries and tourism.
History
The concept was initially mooted in 1991 by the then young Sri Lankan Industries' Science and Technology Minister
Ranil Wickremesinghe
Ranil Wickremesinghe ( si, රනිල් වික්රමසිංහ, ta, ரணில் விக்கிரமசிங்க; born 24 March 1949) is a Sri Lankan politician who is the current president of Sri Lanka since 21 July 2 ...
. He presented the plan to the visiting Japanese Prime Minister
Toshiki Kaifu
was a Japanese politician who served as the 77th Prime Minister of Japan from 1989 to 1991.
Early life and education
Kaifu was born on 2 January 1931, in Nagoya City, the eldest of six brothers. His family's business Nakamura Photo Studio wa ...
, with the objective of getting Japanese assistance to implement the project. However, development of the concept came to a halt with the change of the government in 1994. In 2004, the Singaporean
Housing and Development Board
The Housing & Development Board (HDB) (; ms, Lembaga Perumahan dan Pembangunan; ta, வீடமைப்பு வளர்ச்சிக் கழகம்) or often referred to as the Housing Board, is a statutory board under the M ...
's design subsidiary CESMA created the Western Region Megapolis plan. When Wickremesinghe returned to power and the proposal was submitted to the Board of Investment (BOI), however, the end of the administration again stopped the project. His successor
Mahinda Rajapaksa
Mahinda Rajapaksa ( si, මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ, ta, மஹிந்த ராஜபக்ஷ; born Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa; 18 November 1945) is a Sri Lankan politician. He served as the President of Sri Lanka from 2005 to ...
mostly abandoned the plan but implemented piecemeal sections of the project.
After returning to power in 2015, Wickremasinghe requested Surbana Jurong, the successor of CESMA, to revise the plan to suit the newer needs. The Megapolis plan was unveiled in a ceremony with Prime Minister Wickremesighe, President
Maithripala Sirisena
Maithripala Yapa Sirisena ( si, පල්ලෙවත්ත ගමරාළලාගේ මෛත්රීපාල යාපා සිරිසේන; ta, பல்லேவத்த கமராளலாகே மைத்திரி ...
, and Megapolis and Western Province Development Minister
Champika Ranawaka
Achchige Patali Champika Ranawaka ( Sinhala: පාඨලී චම්පික රණවක; born 4 August 1965) is a Sri Lankan electrical engineer and Far-right politician. He is the Member of Parliament from Colombo District of Samagi Jana B ...
. In 2016
Siemens
Siemens AG ( ) is a German multinational conglomerate corporation and the largest industrial manufacturing company in Europe headquartered in Munich with branch offices abroad.
The principal divisions of the corporation are ''Industry'', '' ...
signed an MoU with the
Ministry of Megapolis to provide solutions for smart cities.
Notable Developments
Colombo International Financial City
The
Colombo International Financial City
Colombo International Financial City ( si, කොළඹ ජාත්යන්තර මූල්ය නගරය, translit=Koḷam̆ba Jātyantara Mūlya Nagaraya) is a special economic zone and International Financial Centre located in C ...
(CIFC) is a planned offshore city adjacent to
Galle Face Green
Galle Face is a ocean-side urban park, which stretches for along the coast, in the heart of Colombo, the financial and business capital of Sri Lanka. The promenade was initially laid out in 1859 by Governor Sir Henry George Ward, although t ...
in Central
Colombo
Colombo ( ; si, කොළඹ, translit=Koḷam̆ba, ; ta, கொழும்பு, translit=Koḻumpu, ) is the executive and judicial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. According to the Brookings Institution, Colombo me ...
that would be built on reclaimed land. It is touted as an international financial center and is funded by Chinese investment; the city will have a separate legal and financial system which is likely to be governed by the Chinese firms that control the land, although the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka still has the final word on legal matters.
Transport
The megapolis project has several transport development proposals. The Plans include modernized bus service, an electrified railway system, a modern rapid transit system, and an inland water transport system for a new boat/ferry service that uses Colombo's historic canal network, a new urban expressway system, and improvements to existing roadways. Transport-related related projects identified by the master plan of Western Region Megapolis Planning Project are implemented under the Transport Development Project (TBD).. The Western Region Megapolis Transport Masterplan has published the detailed plan.
A new rail-based Rapid Transit System will be introduced in the Greater Colombo area. Bus, taxi and school transport systems in the region will be restructured and modernized. Bus stations and terminals will be upgraded. A transport information and analysis center is proposed in the project master plan.
Railways
Upgrading stations, rail tracks and signaling, communication and ticketing systems, and the introduction of new
rolling stock
The term rolling stock in the rail transport industry refers to railway vehicles, including both powered and unpowered vehicles: for example, locomotives, freight and passenger cars (or coaches), and non-revenue cars. Passenger vehicles can b ...
have been proposed.
Electrification
Electrification is the process of powering by electricity and, in many contexts, the introduction of such power by changing over from an earlier power source.
The broad meaning of the term, such as in the history of technology, economic histor ...
of existing lines and several new lines are also proposed in the project. The main lines to be modernized and electrified are:
#
Panadura
Panadura ( si, පානදුර, translit=Pānadura; ta, பாணந்துறை, translit=Pāṇantuṟai) is a city in Kalutara District, Western Province in Sri Lanka. It is located approximately south of Colombo and is surrounded on a ...
–
Veyangoda –
Polgahawela
Polgahawela is a town located in north western Sri Lanka. It is most notable for being a major railway junction.
Polgahawela is situated in the North Western Province of Sri Lanka, and is located approximately north-east from the capital city ...
(RL-M1) -110 km
#
Kelani Valley Line
The Kelani Valley railway line in Sri Lanka, covering the breadth of Colombo District. The line is owned, maintained, and operated by Sri Lanka Railways.
Route definition and overview
The Kelani Valley line runs southeast from Colombo Maradan ...
(RL-M3) -60 km
#
Ragama
Ragama ( si, රාගම ta, ரா௧ம) is a suburb of Colombo, located in the Gampaha District, Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is governed by the Ja-Ela Pradeshiya Sabha.
History
In July 1874 a rail line, known as the Breakwater line, ...
to
Negombo
Negombo (, ) is a major city in Sri Lanka, situated on the west coast and at the mouth of the Negombo Lagoon, in Western Province, from Colombo via Colombo - Katunayake Expressway.
Negombo is one of the major commercial hubs in the country and ...
line with additional new airport access (RL-M2) -26 km
#
Kottawa
Kottawa ( si, කොට්ටාව, ta, கொட்டாவை) is one of the main suburbs in Colombo, Sri Lanka and is administered by the Maharagama Urban Council. It is located from the centre of Colombo.
History
The name Kottawa is de ...
to
Horana
Horana ( si, හොරණ, , ta, ஹொரணை) is a town in Kalutara District, in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. It is on the A8 highway between Panadura and Ratnapura, away from Ratnapura and away from Panadura. Horana is connected wi ...
(RL-NR1) –22 km
#
Kelaniya
Kelaniya ( si, කැලණිය ta, களனி) is a suburb of Colombo in the Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is known for the Buddhist temple built on the banks of the Kelani River, which divides the suburb from Colombo District. The templ ...
to
Kosgama Kosgama is a small town in Colombo District, Sri Lanka. Located 46 km from Colombo, on the A4 (Colombo - Avissawella) highway, it is also served by the Kelani Valley Railway Line. The town is administered by the Seethawaka
Avissawella, ( si, ...
via
Biyagama
Biyagama ( si, බියගම, ta, பியகம) is a suburb in Gampaha District, situated in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. It is 12 miles from Colombo. A Free Trade Zone was established in Biyagama in 1985.
"Kaduwela" interchange of expr ...
and
Dompe (RL-NR2) - 30 km
The first three lines already exist while the last two are proposed to be added to the net work in the future. The feasibility study on the Panadura–Veyangoda line has been proposed under the Colombo Suburban Railway Project under ADB assistance and in April 2016 the
Ministry of Transport
A ministry of transport or transportation is a ministry responsible for transportation within a country. It usually is administered by the ''minister for transport''. The term is also sometimes applied to the departments or other government age ...
shortlisted the consultants for the feasibility study.
The introduction of
maglev
Maglev (derived from '' magnetic levitation''), is a system of train transportation that uses two sets of electromagnets: one set to repel and push the train up off the track, and another set to move the elevated train ahead, taking advantage ...
high-speed rail has been proposed by the High Speed Railway Corporation (HSRC). It would connect
Negombo
Negombo (, ) is a major city in Sri Lanka, situated on the west coast and at the mouth of the Negombo Lagoon, in Western Province, from Colombo via Colombo - Katunayake Expressway.
Negombo is one of the major commercial hubs in the country and ...
in the north to
Kollupitiya
Kollupitiya, also known as Colpetty is a major neighbourhood of Colombo, Sri Lanka. The name Kollupitiya comes from the name of a chief from Kandy who had unsuccessfully attempted to dethrone the last king of Kandy. During the period of British a ...
in the south.
Rapid Transit
The plan proposes a
Light Rail Transit (LRT) system serving the designated Western Region Megapolis area within the
Colombo District
Colombo District ( si, කොළඹ දිස්ත්රික්කය ''kol̠am̆ba distrikkaya''; ta, கொழும்பு மாவட்டம் ''Koḻumpu Māvaṭṭam'') is one of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka, the second level ...
. The project will consist of seven elevated and surface-level tracks to cover major public institutions in the city and the suburbs. The
Japan International Cooperation Agency
The is a governmental agency that delivers the bulk of Official Development Assistance (ODA) for the government of Japan. It is chartered with assisting economic and social growth in developing countries, and the promotion of international co ...
agreed to fund the project and is assisting with the feasibility study. In 2017, various consulting services expressed interests in feasibility studies. In November 2017, the
Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development
Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development ( Sinhala: මහානගර හා බස්නාහිර සංවර්ධන අමාත්යාංශය ''Mahanagara Ha Basnahira Sanvardhana Amathyanshaya'') was an appointment in the Cab ...
signed with a South Korean company, Seoyoung Engineering, to begin a feasibility study of the project. The planned construction in Colombo and its suburbs began in late 2018.
The project is to be carried out in seven phases. The first phase would see the Light Rail system running from
Malabe
Malabe ( si, මාළබේ, ta, மாலபே) is a suburb of Colombo in the Colombo District, Sri Lanka. It is situated on the New Kandy Road (Kaduwela Road) about away from the centre of the commercial capital Colombo. This suburb is a c ...
to
Fort
A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
, with all seven phases covering a total distance of 75 km.
The seven phases are listed below:
# Green Line (RTS1) - 15 km -
Fort
A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
–
Kollupitiya
Kollupitiya, also known as Colpetty is a major neighbourhood of Colombo, Sri Lanka. The name Kollupitiya comes from the name of a chief from Kandy who had unsuccessfully attempted to dethrone the last king of Kandy. During the period of British a ...
–
Bambalapitiya
Bambalapitiya is a southern coastal neighbourhood of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The area also known as Colombo 4, spans about along Galle Road. The western boundary of the suburb is the Indian Ocean and it is bordered to the east by Havelock Town, t ...
–
Borella
Borella is the largest suburb in Colombo, Sri Lanka represented by divisional code 8.
Demographic
Borella is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic area. The major ethnic communities in Borella are Sinhalese and Tamils. There are also various other ...
–
Union Place
Union Place is a suburb in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Union Place is located approximately 1 kilometre south-east from the centre of Colombo, Fort.
Demographic
Union Place is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic area. The major ethnic communities in U ...
–
Maradana
Maradana is a suburb of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Maradana is the site of Maradana Railway Station, one of the primary railway hubs in the country, serving intercity rail and commuter rail. Maradana also has many railway yards and running sheds. A te ...
# Yellow Line (RTS2) - 11.5 km -
Fort
A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
–
Maradana
Maradana is a suburb of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Maradana is the site of Maradana Railway Station, one of the primary railway hubs in the country, serving intercity rail and commuter rail. Maradana also has many railway yards and running sheds. A te ...
–
Mattakkuliya
Mattakkuliya is a suburb in Colombo, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the D ...
and
Peliyagoda
Peliyagoda is a town in the Western Province of Sri Lanka, lying mostly on the north shore of the Kelani River
The Kelani River ( si, කැළණි ගඟ) is a river in Sri Lanka. Ranking as the fourth-longest river in the country, it stre ...
# Red Line (RTS3) - 10 km -
Dematagoda
Dematagoda is in Colombo, Sri Lanka represented by divisional code 9 (Colombo 09). It is surrounded by Borella, Maradana and Kolonnawa. The Baseline Road passes through Dematagoda. The famous Sri Lankan Tamil broadcaster of Radio Ceylon fame, B. H ...
–
Borella
Borella is the largest suburb in Colombo, Sri Lanka represented by divisional code 8.
Demographic
Borella is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic area. The major ethnic communities in Borella are Sinhalese and Tamils. There are also various other ...
–
Narahenpita
Narahenpita is a municipal ward of Colombo. Located at the South-Eastern corner and served by the Kelani Valley Railway Line
The Kelani Valley railway line in Sri Lanka, covering the breadth of Colombo District. The line is owned, maintained, ...
–
Kirulapana
Kirulapone (Kirulapana) is a suburb in Colombo, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and offici ...
–
Havelock City
Havelock City is a large mixed-use real-estate project in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Residential component of the project consists of 8 residential towers and the Commercial component of the project consists of a 46-storey office tower and a Shopp ...
–
Bambalapitiya
Bambalapitiya is a southern coastal neighbourhood of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The area also known as Colombo 4, spans about along Galle Road. The western boundary of the suburb is the Indian Ocean and it is bordered to the east by Havelock Town, t ...
# Purple Line (RTS4) - 10 km -
Borella
Borella is the largest suburb in Colombo, Sri Lanka represented by divisional code 8.
Demographic
Borella is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic area. The major ethnic communities in Borella are Sinhalese and Tamils. There are also various other ...
–
Rajagiriya
Rajagiriya is part of the Sri Lanka's administrative capital of Sri Jayawardenapura. A fairly large suburb bordering Colombo, Rajagiriya lies between Borella and Ethul Kotte, straddling Parliament Road.
History
The area was originally known a ...
–
Battaramulla
Battaramulla is a suburb of Colombo, situated from the city centre at Colombo Fort, near the Parliament of Sri Lanka. It is one of the fastest developing administrative, commercial and residential areas in the Colombo District, being home to th ...
–
Malabe
Malabe ( si, මාළබේ, ta, மாலபே) is a suburb of Colombo in the Colombo District, Sri Lanka. It is situated on the New Kandy Road (Kaduwela Road) about away from the centre of the commercial capital Colombo. This suburb is a c ...
# Pink Line (RTS5) - 9.6 km -
Malabe
Malabe ( si, මාළබේ, ta, மாலபே) is a suburb of Colombo in the Colombo District, Sri Lanka. It is situated on the New Kandy Road (Kaduwela Road) about away from the centre of the commercial capital Colombo. This suburb is a c ...
to
Kottawa
Kottawa ( si, කොට්ටාව, ta, கொட்டாவை) is one of the main suburbs in Colombo, Sri Lanka and is administered by the Maharagama Urban Council. It is located from the centre of Colombo.
History
The name Kottawa is de ...
# Olive Line (RTS6) - 6 km -
Malabe
Malabe ( si, මාළබේ, ta, மாலபே) is a suburb of Colombo in the Colombo District, Sri Lanka. It is situated on the New Kandy Road (Kaduwela Road) about away from the centre of the commercial capital Colombo. This suburb is a c ...
to
Kaduwela
# Ash Line (RTS7) - 13 km -
Peliyagoda
Peliyagoda is a town in the Western Province of Sri Lanka, lying mostly on the north shore of the Kelani River
The Kelani River ( si, කැළණි ගඟ) is a river in Sri Lanka. Ranking as the fourth-longest river in the country, it stre ...
to
Kadawatha
Kadawatha (or Kadawata) ( si, කඩවත ta, கடவத) is a large suburb of Colombo, in the Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is situated on the A1 highway, approximately away from the centre of Colombo. Industrial machines, factories, die ...
Bus
The plan envisions revising the route network to enhance efficiency and convenience, reform and restructure public bus service and institutions, initiate express bus services using intercity expressways, deploy smart bus service with low floor kneeling, air conditioning, and on-board IT, and improve facilities at suburban bus terminals and stands.
The
Lotus Tower
Lotus Tower ( si, නෙළුම් කුළුණ; ta, தாமரைக் கோபுரம்), also referred to as Colombo Lotus Tower, is a tall tower, located in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It has been called a symbolic landmark of Sri Lan ...
was touted as the modular hub for a citywide bus service during its construction, although the accompanying monorail service has been replaced with LRT and little information has been released about the future of the bus service.
Waterways
There will be new boat services to enhance west-west connectivity and to promote eco-tourism during night hours. Three main routes have been identified:
*
Wellawatta
Wellawatta is a neighbourhood of Colombo, Sri Lanka. It lies immediately south of Bambalapitiya and is classified as zone 6 within the Colombo Municipal region. The town begins at the old Dutch canal just before the Savoy Cinema and extends sou ...
–
Battaramulla
Battaramulla is a suburb of Colombo, situated from the city centre at Colombo Fort, near the Parliament of Sri Lanka. It is one of the fastest developing administrative, commercial and residential areas in the Colombo District, being home to th ...
Line (IW1)
*
Fort
A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
–
Union Place
Union Place is a suburb in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Union Place is located approximately 1 kilometre south-east from the centre of Colombo, Fort.
Demographic
Union Place is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic area. The major ethnic communities in U ...
(along
Beire Lake) (IW2)
*
Mattakkuliya
Mattakkuliya is a suburb in Colombo, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the D ...
–
Hanwella
Hanwella is a town in Sri Lanka, situated about from Colombo, the commercial capital of the country. Hanwella lies on the Colombo-Ratnapura main road, on the banks of the Kelani River.
Geography
This historic city belongs to the Colombo distr ...
(along the
Kelani River
The Kelani River ( si, කැළණි ගඟ) is a river in Sri Lanka. Ranking as the fourth-longest river in the country, it stretches from the Sri Pada Mountain Range to Colombo. It flows through or borders the Sri Lankan districts of Nuwara ...
) (IW3)
It is proposed to be launched as a
public-private partnership. A boat service between
Battaramulla
Battaramulla is a suburb of Colombo, situated from the city centre at Colombo Fort, near the Parliament of Sri Lanka. It is one of the fastest developing administrative, commercial and residential areas in the Colombo District, being home to th ...
and
Nawala
Nawala is an up-market residential Suburb of Colombo, within the Kotte municipality in the western province of Sri Lanka and is approximately 6km south from Colombo City.
Nawala lies between the Commercial Capital Colombo and the Administrativ ...
began in December 2016.
Roads
The roads plan involves expanding and extending existing key roadways, improving existing urban roads and intersections, and building elevated roadways from the New Kelani Bridge to
Colombo Fort
Fort (Colombo) (; ) is the central business district of Colombo in Sri Lanka. It is the financial district of Colombo and the location of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and the World Trade Centre of Colombo from which the CSE operates. It is ...
area,
Colombo Port
The Port of Colombo (known as Port of Kolomtota during the early 14th Century Kotte Kingdom) is the largest and busiest port in Sri Lanka and the Indian Ocean. Located in Colombo, on the southwestern shores on the Kelani River, it serves as an i ...
, and
Battaramulla
Battaramulla is a suburb of Colombo, situated from the city centre at Colombo Fort, near the Parliament of Sri Lanka. It is one of the fastest developing administrative, commercial and residential areas in the Colombo District, being home to th ...
.
Flyovers are also being built as an interim solution for traffic congestion.
Air
International Airport
An expansion of the
Colombo International Airport
Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) ( si, බණ්ඩාරනායක ජාත්යන්තර ගුවන්තොටුපළ, translit=Bandāranāyaka Jātyantara Guvantoṭupaḷa; ta, பண்டாரநாயக்க ...
will see a new terminal built. Construction started in 2017.
Energy
The plan proposes the expansion and modernization of the
Sapugaskanda Refinery
The Sapugaskanda Refinery (also referred to as Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery) is the single largest oil refinery of Sri Lanka. The refinery was built by Iran under the guidance of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation in August 1969, initially designed to ...
, new natural gas power plants, the conversion of existing petroleum based power plants to natural gas and overhead voltage lines to underground insulated cables, exploration of natural gas reserves in
Mannar Mannar may refer to the following places:
India
* Mannar, Alappuzha, a town in Chengannur Taluk, Kerala
Sri Lanka
* Mannar District, one of 25 districts in Sri Lanka
** Mannar Island, an island within the district
**Mannar Bridge, a bridge connect ...
, and the development of clean energy such as solar power, wind power, and waste-to-energy power plants.
The first waste to energy plant under the Western Region Megapolis plan entered construction in 2017 as an investment by Aitken Spence Group’s Western Power Company and was opened in 2021.
Planning areas
The project is divided into 11 planning areas in terms of geography and economic potential. Each has its own zoning rules and regulations:
1. Aero City Zone: Katunayake
The Aero City in
Katunayake
Katunayake ( si, කටුනායක, ta, கட்டுநாயகம்), is a suburb of Negombo city in Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is the site of Bandaranaike International Airport or Colombo Airport, the primary international air g ...
will involve development of airport infrastructure, including upgrading the aerodrome of the
Colombo International Airport
Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) ( si, බණ්ඩාරනායක ජාත්යන්තර ගුවන්තොටුපළ, translit=Bandāranāyaka Jātyantara Guvantoṭupaḷa; ta, பண்டாரநாயக்க ...
, a new passenger terminal, the Aero-City Business Park, an airport hotel, an international convention center, a second runway, and the development of an Aero-City residential township in
Minuwangoda
Minuwangoda ( si, මිනුවන්ගොඩ, ta, மினுவந்கொட) is a town in Gampaha district, governed by an List of municipalities in Sri Lanka, Urban Council, situated near Negombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka, Western ...
.
2. Tourism and Environmental Corridor: Muthurajawela
The tourism and Environmental corridor will be in the
Muthurajawela wetlands.
3. Industrial City: Mirigama
Situated in
Mirigama
Mirigama (also spelled Meerigama) ( si, මීරිගම; ta, மீரிகம) is a town in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka. It is located from Colombo, and from Negombo.
Mirigama is the hometown of Sri Lanka's first Prime Minister, D. S. Sen ...
, the industrial city aims to bolster industries such as pharmaceuticals, electronic products, manufactured edible products from cultivated agricultural products, ceramics, glassware from mineral products, cosmetic products, and providing locations for SMEs that will support such industries. The project aims to create a livable city for migrants from rural areas to settle in Mirigama without moving to Colombo, which will attract real estate developers to develop quality housing, schools, healthcare facilities, and other social infrastructure.
4. Industrial City: Horana
The
Horana
Horana ( si, හොරණ, , ta, ஹொரணை) is a town in Kalutara District, in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. It is on the A8 highway between Panadura and Ratnapura, away from Ratnapura and away from Panadura. Horana is connected wi ...
industrial city will occupy approximately 85 km
2 of existing towns and scattered villages. It is planned to attract large scale industries in tires and tubes, electronic products, pharmaceuticals, and food. The area was selected due to land availability and connectivity via the north–south highway. New residential townships will be created to provide affordable housing for workers attracting real estate development.
5. Logistics City
The Logistics City is strategically located in close proximity to the
Colombo Port
The Port of Colombo (known as Port of Kolomtota during the early 14th Century Kotte Kingdom) is the largest and busiest port in Sri Lanka and the Indian Ocean. Located in Colombo, on the southwestern shores on the Kelani River, it serves as an i ...
and the airport and is expected to span across a region of 306 km
2.It will be linked to other areas of the project through multimodal connectivity, such as dedicated roads, expressways, and railway links for freight handling and transportation. Industrial clusters are proposed for facilities such as transshipment, dry port, warehousing, cold storage, vehicle repair, and cargo distribution.
The first phase of the Logistics city was launched in January 2017 by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Minister
Champika Ranawaka
Achchige Patali Champika Ranawaka ( Sinhala: පාඨලී චම්පික රණවක; born 4 August 1965) is a Sri Lankan electrical engineer and Far-right politician. He is the Member of Parliament from Colombo District of Samagi Jana B ...
. The first investment is a joint venture between
GAC Group
Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. (GAC Group) is a Chinese state-owned automobile manufacturer headquartered in Guangzhou, Guangdong. Founded in 1954, it is currently the fifth largest automobile manufacturer in China, with 2.144 million sa ...
and
Hemas Logistics to build a modern integrated logistics facility with a state-of-the-art distribution center, container yard and a warehouse facility.
6. Colombo Core Area
The core area is divided into two main segments: the Central Business District (CBD) and the Core Area, which overlaps with the boundaries of the Colombo and
Gampaha District
Gampaha District ( si, ගම්පහ දිස්ත්රික්කය ''gampaha distrikkaya'', ta, கம்பஹா மாவட்டம் ''Kampahā Māvaṭṭam'') is one of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka, the second level administ ...
s. The CBD project aims to develop the area for "work, life and play." A unique shopping district along Beira lake is proposed alongside an entertainment district on the other side of the
Beira Lake
Beira Lake (/bˈɐjɾɐ/; Sinhalese: බේරේ වැව, translit. ''Bērē væva''; Tami: பேரே ஏரி, translit. ''Pērē ēri'') is a lake in the centre of the city of Colombo in Sri Lanka. The lake is surrounded by many large b ...
and the
Fort
A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
and
Pettah
Pettah may refer to:
* Pettah of Ahmednagar, a fortified town outside the Fort of Ahmednagar stormed by British soldiers in 1803 during Second Anglo-Maratha War
* Pettah, Colombo, a neighborhood in Colombo, Sri Lanka located east of the City cent ...
areas will be developed into a pedestrian friendly area.
7. The Outer Core Area
The Outer Core area has been identified just outside the core area. They serve the suburbs that are expected to have higher population and purchasing power in the long term and is expected to be a medium density residential and mixed commercial development area.
8. Plantation City: Avissawella
The Plantation City consists of 330 km
2 of plantation areas around
Avissawella
Avissawella, ( si, අවිස්සාවේල්ල, ta, அவிசாவளை) is a township in Sri Lanka, governed by an Urban Council, situated on the A4 route from Colombo to Ratnapura, Colombo District, Western Province, Sri Lanka, ap ...
alongside pockets of residential development. The region's economy will be largely based on plantations and hopes to attract population from rural areas and to offer a different environment to live compared to densely populated Colombo and the surrounding areas.
9. Forest City
Occupying an area of approximately 1050 km
2 in the southernmost part of the Western Region Megapolis, the Forest city contains a small population mostly engaged in agriculture and forest related activities. The area will be built upon farms, forests and heritage to improve quality of life while protecting the environment. The economy will be largely based on tourism, including
eco-and
agritourism
Agritourism or agrotourism involves any agriculturally based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm or ranch.
Types
A 2018 article published in the ''Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development'' classified a ...
.
10. Coastal and Marine Zone
11. Science and Technology City
Also known as the "Techno City," the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development envisions to build a Science and Technology City dedicated to knowledge services and research based education and training. It is planned to be located mainly around the town centers from
Homagama
Homagama is a town in the Colombo District, Sri Lanka, about south-east of Colombo. The Homagama Pradeshiya Sabha consists of the Homagama divisional secretariat and 10 GN division of Padukka DS division. The total Land area is about is of 90 ...
to
Kaduwela via
Malabe
Malabe ( si, මාළබේ, ta, மாலபே) is a suburb of Colombo in the Colombo District, Sri Lanka. It is situated on the New Kandy Road (Kaduwela Road) about away from the centre of the commercial capital Colombo. This suburb is a c ...
. With a mission to utilize science and technology to increase the wealth of the community by promoting the culture of innovation and the competitiveness of associated businesses, industries and knowledge-based institutions, the project plans to contain high-tech research and development centers, incubation centers, and high-tech industries with all the requisite support services and facilities and a dedicated technological university.
The Science and Technology City is planned to primarily focus on nanotechnology, civil nuclear technology, space technology, information and communication technologies, electronic manufacturing and semiconductor technologies, robotics and automation, biotechnology, and gene technology. This project is expected to attract business park developers, software houses, big players in advanced technology, bio-medical industries, and real estate developers.
The city will also contain shopping complexes, cinemas, schools, recreational areas, parking blocks, and a National Space Technology Hub, including Ground Station infrastructure for receiving and distribution of Earth Observation Satellite Data.
The first phase of the project started in September 2016 with initial investments close to 20 billion Rupees by universities and the
Arthur C. Clark Institution for Modern Technologies.
References
External links
* {{Official website, http://www.megapolis.gov.lk
Economy of Sri Lanka
Economy of Colombo
City plans
Zoning
Industry in Sri Lanka