FUTURE ADMINISTRATIVE CITY TO BE ESTABLISHED AS A MEGAPOLIS

The Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development is set to establish Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the future administrative city, as a Megapolis.

The Ministry will submit a proposal to the Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils on the matter in the near future, subject Minister Champika Ranawaka said. Speaking at the ceremony to kick start the mixed development and transport hub project amidst the hustle and bustle of Battaramulla, Ranawaka said the land area proposed for the administrative city came under the purview of several local government bodies such as the Maharagama Urban Council, Kaduwela Urban Council, Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte Municipal Council and the Kotikawatte Mulleriya Pradeshiya Sabha.

“We are fully aware that the relevant mayors and chairpersons will be against this proposal but we are ready to go ahead with it despite the opposition that we will face as this will be a solution for the administration and management of the area. We hope to establish Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte areas as the administrative city within the next five years.”

Ranawaka also stated that the land allocated for the transport hub and mixed development project will also house four buildings to which 113 government institutions situated in Colombo at the moment will be relocated to.

The land previously used by the Kaduwela Urban Council to dump garbage bears the main road from Koswatte to Kaduwela with the government planning to construct a new road leading to the Battaramulla junction from the left of the land.

“There were a number of illegal squatters in the area who have been relocated. We have cleared out everything and hope to put the land to good economical use here.

The light rail transit that is to connect Kaduwela and Pettah will also cut across this transport hub.”

Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrema was also present at the ceremony.

We are fully aware that the relevant mayors and chairpersons will be against this proposal but we are ready to go ahead with it despite the opposition that we will face as this will be a solution for the administration and management of the area

THE LAND ALLOCATED FOR THE TRANSPORT HUB AND MIXED DEVELOPMENT PROJECT WILL ALSO HOUSE FOUR BUILDINGS TO WHICH 113 GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS SITUATED IN COLOMBO AT THE MOMENT WILL BE RELOCATED TO

THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT THAT IS TO CONNECT KADUWELA AND PETTAH WILL ALSO CUT ACROSS THIS TRANSPORT HUB