By: Staff Writer
June 02, Colombo (LNW): Port City Colombo marked a significant milestone on Friday with the official handover of office space to key anchor tenants at its Business Centre. The event signals the commencement of active commercial operations within the Colombo Port City Special Economic Zone (SEZ), enhancing investor confidence in the region and putting the zone’s progressive regulatory framework into action.
The Business Centre comprises nine low-rise office buildings, including a dedicated IT hub and commercial hub. Approximately 80% of the office space has already been leased to “Authorised Persons” – investors registered and approved by the Colombo Port City Economic Commission (CPCEC) to operate within the SEZ.
This development represents a $5 million Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), one of the world’s largest infrastructure firms and a Fortune 500 company. With the Business Centre soon to be operational, Port City Colombo strengthens its position as a rising hub for business, investment, and innovation in South Asia.
The handover ceremony drew high-profile attendees including CCCC Deputy General Manager Chen Zhong, CPCEC Chairman Harsha Amarasekera, CHEC Chairman Bai Yinzhan, Finance Ministry’s Director General of Corporate Affairs Dr. Sulakshana Jayawardena, and CHEC Port City Colombo Managing Director Xiong Hongfeng.
Construction of the Business Centre began in March 2024, and it now stands as a premier IT and business park designed to facilitate business growth, knowledge sharing, and technological advancement. The new tenants are expected to benefit from the SEZ’s attractive fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, positioning Port City as a magnet for regional and international enterprise.
CCCC, employing over 120,000 people across 145 countries, has been active in Sri Lanka since 1998 and views Port City Colombo as one of its most strategic investments. Through CHEC, it has already invested around $1.4 billion in the Port City project—Sri Lanka’s largest FDI-backed Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to date.
With the onboarding of new tenants, Port City Colombo is poised to contribute significantly to Sri Lanka’s economic transformation—creating jobs, fostering innovation, and anchoring the nation’s future as a vibrant business destination in South Asia.
