Cabinet approves inland water transportation from Fort to Union Place

Cabinet approval has been granted to implement inland water transportation from Fort to Union Place via Beira Lake. The pilot project will be established with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Navy before the advanced inland water transportation project is implemented. The pilot project is to be implemented in two years.

The proposal submitted by the Megapolis and Western Development Minister stated that vessels required for the project and construction material for jetties were being purchased.

Last year, the ministry said in a communiqué that a water transportation system would be set up in Colombo. The statement went on to say that the system would be established in major water sources around the country.

Accordingly, the first water-based transportation route will be set up from Wellawatte to Battaramulla through Kirulapone. Another route is to be set up from Beira Lake to Union Place and several others along the Kelani River. The project will be established under a Public-private Partnership (PPP).

The area surrounding the Beira Lake will also be developed as a

The first waterbased transportation route will be set up from Wellawatte to Battaramulla through Kirulapone. Another route is to be set up from Beira Lake to Union Place and several others along the Kelani River. The project will be established under a Publicprivate Partnership (PPP)

commercial hub, with Battaramulla developed as the administrative city. Other areas will be developed with specific vocations and professions in mind.

The statement said a number of projects in the transportation sector including the construction of multimodal transport hubs and the development of the public bus service would be initiated this year. It further said infrastructure projects such as ‘Sukithapurawara’ would oversee as many as 70 projects in the Western Province.

While the first phase of many of the projects is being completed, the government has allocated Rs.2,750 million for the completion of Phase-ii of the projects.