Galle Port City development will come up within the next few months giving a new impetus for the Southern province under the Galle Port Development programme.
This land reclamation project using dredging material of harbour basin and access channel is expected to increase the Galle City land area by another 40 hectares.
The Sri Lanka Ports Authority SLPA added that a state-of-art cruise terminal will be constructed, retaining the colonial heritage architecture for cruise clients.
This was revealed at the ceremony organized in connection with the ‘Galle Port Development Symposium 2022 worked off on Wednesday (January 26) to unveil the Sri Lankan government’s plans to develop Galle Port as a fully-fledged tourist port.
According to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), the expected investment is US 175 million.
The return on investment from the project is ensured with promising demand for real estate developments connected with tourism, the SLPA said further, noting that this project is open for potential investors through the Expression of Interest (EOI) and Request for Proposals (RFP) process.
Plans are drawn up to develop the Galle port with the establishment of a “Yacht Marina Zone”.The SLPA will develop the existing Port of Galle to accommodate the increasing demand for freight handling for Sri Lanka as well as an international regional destination.
Construction of a deep-water passenger vessel terminal and breakwaters, dredging of entrance channel and basin, and other facilities at the port of Galle to contribute to the economic development of the country are in the development plan which was floated for several years by many successive governments.
After the completion of the development, all passenger vessels can also be docked at the Galle outer port area.
The SLPA said the need to develop the Galle Port under the theme of ‘Tourist Destination and Secured Port’ has been identified and this will enable the maintenance of the Galle Port as a regional commercial port.
The Ministry of Ports and Shipping has planned to implement the Galle Port Development Project under a public-private joint partnership project.
Addressing the event, Ports and Shipping Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena assured that local and foreign investors would be encouraged and provided with all necessary facilities expeditiously.
The development project will fulfill macroeconomic objectives of achieving people-centric economic aspirations, he said further.
Meanwhile, the SLPA chairman Dr. Prasantha Jayamanne noted that this development project is certainly going to provide many new opportunities not only to local and foreign investors but also to the people of the area as a catalyst to the local economic development.
Under this project, two offshore breakwaters having 850m and 150m length will be constructed to maintain the sufficient calmness in the Galle bay and harbour.
Further, a cruise berth having 150m length and 12.5m draft to accommodate the largest cruise vessels in the world will also be constructed.
In addition, a land reclamation project using dredging material of harbour basin and access channel is expected to increase the Galle City land area by another 40 hectares.
The SLPA added that a state-of-art cruise terminal will be constructed, retaining the colonial heritage architecture for cruise clients.
It also pointed out that this development venture would generate hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities for local communities.
