Sri Lanka extends local and foreign expert services on Megapolis for five months

Oct 29, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has extended the local and foreign consultancy services on the Capital Colombo’s Megapolis project by five months, Cabinet Spokesperson and Mass Media Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka said.



The government hired Surbana/ CESMA International, a part of Singapore's state-run Housing Development Corporation, for a sum of 35 million rupees, to design the Megapolis in Sri Lanka. The agreement between Surbana/CESMA, Singapore and the government of Sri Lanka has been signed on 18^th September due to the change of administrative system in the island. The project covers the entire Western Province from Negombo in the north to Kalutara in the south.





The plan has proceeded from 05^th May this year to 4^th September and data collection and preparation of preliminary plans and legislation, preparation of basic design have been completed, the cabinet co spokesman told reporters on Thursday. A period of another four months will be required for Surbana to complete the project.



Due to this, a core team of domestic professionals during the last four months have be retained as a support group as counterparts to the foreign consultants for a period of five months effective from 5th September this year to 4^th February 2016. Accordingly the cabinet approved the proposal by Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, to extend the time period, Karunathilaka said.







The Megapolis has obtain services of officers on full time basis over a period of four months from the institutions of Urban Development Authority, Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation, Central Environmental Authority, Coastal Conservation Department, Colombo Municipal Council, Ministry of Transport, Road Development Authority, National Physical Planning Department, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, government agent of Colombo district. The total budget for the project is 50 million rupees.

The Treasury and Urban Development Authority have already allocated 56 million rupees and 10 million rupees to prepare the Western Region Megapolis Plan.