Port City Colombo is an ambitious development project, aiming to create a modern, sustainable, and vibrant city, which offers a high-quality lifestyle, enhances economic growth, and attracts both local and international investment to the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Sri Lanka’s idyllic capital city of Colombo is situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR); an area comprising 37 states, from Eastern and Southern Africa, to the oil rich Gulf States of Saudi Arabia and Iran, and the booming economies of South and South East Asia. Home to more than 3 billion people, a burgeoning middle class of 1 billion people offers dynamic and expanding market opportunities and will continue to drive global demand in the future.
At the heart of this region lies the isle of Sri Lanka; a global hub of international, maritime trade, which welcomes more than 60,000 ships annually, accounting for almost 40% of all global trade passing less than 15 kilometers from its shores.
The Port City Colombo Development is the jewel in Colombo’s future; a world class development site, in the model of Dubai, designed to meet to the opportunities of the region’s striking growth, and expressly tailored to meet the demands of the 400 million people of fast growing Southern India and Maharashtra; just 2 hours flight from Colombo, as well as service the needs of South Asia, the Gulf States and South East Asia (including Singapore and Hong Kong).
Rising levels of disposable income in the region over the next decade will lead to expectations of better services in finance, banking, stock brokering, investment, wealth management, insurance, pensions, health care, education, transportation, cuisine, and infrastructure services, as well as demanding wide access to cutting-edge technologies, such as robotics, AI, connectivity, and digital solutions for everyday life. As the digital divide narrows, leisure and entertainment demands will increase along with the use of luxury goods and the pursuit of aspirational lifestyles. Port City Colombo will provide a space for fostering investments, creating not only a uniquely situated business hub, but a vibrant urban space to foster a sense of community well-being; designed with an emphasis on sustainability and eco-consciousness; prioritizing green initiatives, renewable energy solutions, and sustainable practices across a wide- range of industries.
The Port City master plan is a massive development project that aims to transform a reclaimed land area of 269 hectares into a modern integrated city – a new City for the Indian subcontinent. The development plan includes the following relevant and contemporary features:
Financial district: Built over 40 HA, and containing 14 plots, the Port City Financial District is designed to provide a global financial and business hub, with state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities, that provide office space and corporate headquarters for financial institutions, banks, stock brokerages and markets, wealth management firms, family offices, insurance companies, hedge funds, accountants, and legal institutions.
The Marina: Nestled along the picturesque coastline of Colombo, Port City’s Marina will seamlessly blend modernity with natural beauty, offering stunning, panoramic views of the ocean, and giving access to a plethora of amenities. With shopping centers, dining options, and recreational facilities, the Marina will be a vibrant hub symbolizing Colombo’s evolution into a cosmopolitan metropolis. The Marina will cover 15 HA and contain 8 plots.
Island Living: With iconic, high-rise residential buildings, luxury apartments and beach side villas (all equipped with modern amenities, green spaces, cycle paths, jogging areas, and communal facilities), Island Living will cover 95 HA and comprise 26 plots
Central Park Living: Central Park Living offers a unique and luxurious residential experience in the heart of the bustling capital. This exclusive enclave, with 35 HA of 7 plots, provides residents with a tranquil oasis, while still being surrounded by the energy of urban life. Retail and entertainment are on offer, with shopping malls, retail outlets, and entertainment venues such as restaurants, cafes, theaters, cultural centers will provide a vibrant lifestyle experience for residents, tourists and other visitors alike.
International Island: The Port City development plan also includes the creation of world-class tourist attractions, such as hotels, resorts, and recreational facilities. The waterfront promenade and beach access areas will enhance the leisure and entertainment offerings. Port City Colombo will have educational institutions, including international schools and universities, designed to cater to the needs of the residents and attract students from around the world. Additionally, healthcare facilities, hospitals, and clinics will be established to meet the evolving medical needs of the community. International Island will cover 85 HA and comprise 19 plots.
Green spaces and sustainability: A significant aspect of the development plan is the incorporation of green spaces, parks, and landscaped areas. The aim is to create a sustainable environment with a focus on energy conservation, waste management, and green infrastructure.
Sri Lanka’s strategic location
The island of Sri Lanka is at the heart of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) of 37 countries and 3 billion people, of whom 1 billion are of middle class status. A peaceful, prosperous Sri Lanka is vital to the peace and security of the (IOR).
Endowed with a 95% literate capital, Sri Lanka is a leader in tourism, shipping, logistics, trade, ports, airlines, trans-shipment, garments, tea and rubber products, strategic undersea cables, gemstones, rare earth minerals and future ocean mining.
Sri Lanka’s location at the center of the maritime silk route has made it a hub for trade since the 8th century BCE. Today, she lies between the leading hubs of Dubai and Singapore, which are both over 3,000 kilometers away.
Because of its pivotal location Sri Lanka can offer faster and cheaper access to the markets of South Asia, Africa and Europe and the Far East, as well as serve as a transshipment point for cargo from her main four deep water ports Galle, Hambantota and Trincomalee with Colombo with three terminals being one of the fastest growing global ports with installed capacity of over 7 million TEUs.
Sri Lanka can also become a regional aviation hub with two international airports, with Colombo already offering direct flights to over 40 destinations in Asia, Europe, Middle East Africa and Australia. MRIA is the second international airport and in both airports have ample space for expansion and modernization to cater to the growing demand for air travel and cargo.
Sri Lanka also has access to undersea cables, rare earth minerals and ocean mining. Undersea cables are vital for global communication and data transmission. Sri Lanka is connected to several submarine cable systems that link it to Asia, Europe, Africa and America. These include SEA-ME-WE 3, SEA-ME-WE 4, SEA-ME-WE 5, Bharat-Lanka Cable System, Dhiraagu-SLT Submarine Cable Network and i2i Cable Network. These cables provide high-speed internet connectivity and bandwidth to Sri Lanka and enable it to offer ICT services to other countries.
Rare earth minerals are essential for many high-tech industries such as electronics, renewable energy, aerospace and defense. Sri Lanka is one of the few countries in the world with significant deposits of rare earth minerals such Graphite Ilmenite, Rutile, Zircon Vein Quartz, Feldspar Clay, Kaolin, Apatite (Phosphate Rock), Silica Sand, Garnet Sand, Mica Calcite, Dolomite, and Rare Earth Elements.
Sri Lanka has a vast, exclusive seabed economic zone (EEZ) of over 500,000 square kilometers in the Indian Ocean. This area contains potential resources such as manganese nodules, cobalt crusts, polymetallic sulfides, oil and gas hydrates. These resources could be exploited for economic development and energy security.
