Land reclamation for the new Colombo city on sea has commenced

The project to construct a modern planned City within Colombo by reclaiming the sea in front of the Colombo Galle Face green is now being implemented. Accordingly, the sea belt stretching from the new brakewater of the Colombo South Harbour to the Presidential Secretariat is being  reclaimed to be used for this purpose. The Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrema said that no damage will be caused to the turf at the Galle Face Green by this project. 

The objective of the project is to turn Colombo city into a place with more facilities for the people and to construct the city according to a proper development plan. The new City would be fully equipped with many  recreational centers such as golf courses and  tracks for motor car racing.

Dr. Priyath B.Wickrema said that in accordance with the intention of the President to expand the Colombo City by having a modern City adjoining the Port, 500 acres of sea territory adjoining the new Colombo Port Project will be filled. He said that there will be three access roads to this Modern City and one access road will be connected with the marine drive. The second would be constructed opposite the Presidential Secretariat, and the Light House entrance of the Colombo port would be upgraded as the third access road.  The preliminary work on the planned city is to be completed in 3 years

A project of this nature has become necessary due problems being faced in the Colombo City including environment pollution, blocking of the drainage systems, road traffic congestion, floods etc. The feasibility study and environmental impact assessment are being completed.

He said that the SLPA would conduct the project with the technical assistance and consultancy services provided by the University of Moratuwa and Lanka Hydraulic Institute. A rail track is to be developed around the new city and would be the major mode of transport in the city. Park and Drive concept will be introduced in the city so that anyone entering the city will park their vehicles at specified parking locations and take a train ride to go around the city.

The new city will have high rise housing complexes, multiplex office buildings, hotels, shopping malls, tourist sites, recreation facilities, banks and other service centres etc. 

Filling of land for this project will be done by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority at an approximate cost of 250 Million U.S.Dollars.  When the filling and the landscaping work is over local and international tenders will be called for implementing construction of infrastructure and other facilities.

Building this New Colombo City on Sea will be carried out in coordination with the Urban Development Authority, Colombo Municipal Council, All Service Ministries, and the Archaelogical Department,.  The Urban Development Authority will prepare schematic diagrams for the new City after completion of the filling work.

Sri Lanka among 2012 best tourist destinations-National Geographic

National Geographic Traveler magazine has named Sri Lanka among top six destinations for world travelers in 2012, focusing on island’s hill country, heritage sites, and pristine beaches.

The magazine, in its Nov/Dec issue, describes that Sri Lanka’s hill country features stunning scenery, tea plantations, and ancient Buddhist temples, according to China’s Xinhua news agency, citing a statement by the External Affairs Ministry on Friday.

“This mountainous, mist-draped realm has long been popular with backpackers and other adventurers for its tea plantations and rain forest preserves, known as the Central Highlands, which recently were added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list.”

“Sri Lanka is a resplendent isle, and the natural charms of this pear- shaped island in the Indian Ocean that nearly kisses the southeast tip of India are indeed splendid,” the magazine said in a review of its in its best of the world 2012 trips.

Sri Lanka tourism has grown impressively, with a 52 percent increase in 2010 compared to 2009. Arrivals have topped an all-time high of 750,000 and the government has targeted 2.5 million tourists by 2016.

With those increases, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority has outlined a plan to reach a 30,000 hotel-room capacity by 2015.

Recently, top hotel chains such as Starwood (Sheraton), Marriott, Shangri La and Taj have announced plans for new construction in Sri Lanka. A number of existing hotels are also undergoing renovation. The magazine said the island has recently emerged from a bloody civil war between majority Sinhalese and minority Tamils and peace prevails.

-- BERNAMA

Southern Expressway,Sri Lanka

Southern Expressway is the first expressway in Sri Lanka and it is the longest expressway out of proposed expressway network. It runs from Kottawa to Matara (126 km) and also include Galle Fort Access road. Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan Bank of International Corporation (JBIC) are the main funding agencies for this project. Section from Kottawa to Kurundugahahetekma (65 km) was undertaken by JBIC and section from Kurundugahahetekma to Godagama, Matara (64.8 km) was undertaken by ADB.

Southern Expressway will be extended up to Hambantota in it's later stages.

It is expected to open the Southern Expressway from Kottawa to Gall Fort Access (Pinnaduwa) before end of Year 2011. At the initial stage of operation of the expressway the maximum speed limit will be 100 km/h.

Southern Expressway Map

a night view

Project Objectives

• Improve transport facilities for future development of Southern Region. 
 
• Provide a highway to act as a catalyst in encouraging and attracting industries and services for the Economic and Social development of the region.
 
• To promote inter-regional transport facilities by developing this road, considering it as a major component of the proposed Expressway network.

	Current Travel Time	Expected Travel Time on Expressway
Colombo - Matara	4 1/2 - 5 hrs	2 hrs
Colombo - Galle	3 1/2 - 4 hrs	less than 1 1/2 hrs

Kottawa Interchange

Kahathuduwa Interchange

Benefits of the Project  

• Reduce travel time between Colombo to Matara.
• Reduce traffic congestion on Colombo-Matara Road, and reduce delay costs, fuel costs there by contributing to national economy.
• Attract private sector investors and there by contributing to expand the job market
• Development of fisheries, agriculture, industries in the region .
• Expand tourism presently confined to the coastal belt, along Colombo-Galle-Matara.
• Development of Galle port.
• Development of the towns belong to 11 interchanges as Economic Centers
• Enhance the value of land and property in the region

Interchanges

Kottawa	:	(0+000)	-	23rd km of the High level road (Colombo Rathnapura Road)
Kahatuduwa		(5+900)	-	19th km of the Colombo  Horana Road
Gelanigama	:	(13+600)	-	12th km of the Panadura Nambapana Rathnapura Road
Dodangoda	:	(34+700)	-	08th km of the Nagoda - Matugama Road (Nagoda Kalawellawa Bellapitiya)
Welipanna		(46+000)	-	43rd km of the Horana Anguruwathota Aluthgama Road
Kurundugahetekma		(66+000)	-	13th km of the Ambalangoda – Elpitiya Road
Baddegama		(14+800)	-	12th km of the Hikaduwa- Badegama- Nilhena Road
Pinnaduwa		(30+000)

Design Details

Total Length	:	Kottawa to Matara	-	126 km
		Galle fort Access	-	4.9 km
Design Speed	:	120 km/h	-
Stage I	:	Kottawa to Dodangoda	-	4 Lane
		Dodangoda to Godagama	-	2 Lane
Final Stage	:	Kottawa to Matara	-	Widening of 6 Lanes

Toll charges

Toll charges will be levied in four categories for all vehicles. The access controlled Expressway has eight interchanges at Kottawa, Kahatuduwa, Gelanigama, Dodangoda, Welipenna, Kurundugahahethakma, Baddegama and Pinnaduwa.

Cars, dual purpose vehicles and light motor trucks will come under the first category for which Rs. 100 will be levied from Kottawa to Kahathuduwa, Rs. 150 from Kottawa to Gelanigama, Rs. 200 from Kottawa to Dodangoda, Rs. 250 from Kottawa to Welipenna, Rs. 300 from Kottawa to Kurundugahahethakma, Rs. 350 from Kottawa to Baddegama and Rs. 400 from Kottawa to Pinnaduwa.

Light Motor Coaches including passenger transporting vans with more than nine seats and passenger transporting buses with between nine and thirty three seats which fall under the second category will be charged a fee of Rs. 200 from Kottawa to Kahathuduwa, Rs. 200 from Kottawa to Gelanigama, Rs. 400 from Kottawa to Dodangoda, Rs. 400 from Kottawa to Welipenna, Rs. 600 from Kottawa to Kurudugahahethakma Rs. 600 from Kottawa to Baddegama and Rs. 700 from Kottawa to Pinnaduwa.

Heavy vehicles, including buses with more than 33 passenger seats, lorries and trucks with two axles and six wheels and lorries and trucks with three axles will come under the third category for which a toll charge of Rs. 300 will be made from Kottawa to Kahathuduwa, Rs. 300 from Kottawa to Gelanigama, Rs. 600 from Kottawa to Dodangoda, Rs. 700 from Kottawa to Welipenna, Rs. 1000 from Kottawa to Kurundugahahethakma, Rs. 1200 from Kottawa to Baddegama and Rs. 1500 from Kottawa to Pinnaduwa.

Under the fourth category, which includes heavy vehicles including heavy motor coaches and heavy motor lorries with four axles will be levied a toll charge of Rs. 400 from Kottawa to Kahathuduwa, Rs. 400 from Kottawa to Gelanigama, Rs. 800 from Kottawa to Dodangoda, Rs. 1000 from Kottawa to Welipenna, Rs. 1500 from Kottawa to Kurundugahahethakma, Rs. 1800 from Kottawa to Baddegama and Rs. 2000 from Kottawa to Pinnaduwa.

Information credit: http://www.rda.gov.lk

Oldest Human Settlement Unearthed in Sri Lanka

Archaeologists have unearthed a human dwelling in Haldummulla, Sri Lanka, which they believe is the oldest of its kind identified on the island so far.

Prof. Raj Somadeva of the post graduate institute of Archaeology in the Kelaniya University said that it was discovered in an archaeological excavation carried out near Koswatta village in Haldumulla.

Earlier a burial ground was found 0.5km from the recently discovered settlement.

The archaeological site is situated 850 meters above sea level where the foundations of four houses, fireplaces, coal, iron, rock tools, pieces of clay pots and beads have been found.

Prof. Somadeva said that it is the first ancient human dwelling to be found in the central hills. Further investigations are being carried out with regard to the artifacts.

The foundations of two houses date back 3750 years. Two iron tools were found inside the foundations; pieces of red-coloured clay pots were also discovered, along with another object that resembles a pendant.

Source: The Asian News International