Sri Lanka starts Colombo canals dredging project
Sri Lanka has begun deepening canals in marshes bordering the capital Colombo and digging lakes to prevent flooding during the rainy season and for tourism and recreation, officials said.
The project is being done by the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation, which is under the defence ministry.
Mohan Jayatilleke, a charter architect with the land reclamation corporation who is handling the work, said they were seeking investors for the project. The project has several objectives, he told Vimasuma.com, our sister news service.
“We want to promote tourism while at the same time prevent illegal seizure and filling up of marshes. It will help prevent flooding. There will be facilities for water sports and entertainment.”
Parts of Colombo, including the national parliament which is in a suburb, have gone under water during times of heavy rains as low-lying areas meant for water retention have been built up and drainage systems neglected.
Jayetilleke said the land reclamation and development corporation has begun dredging the ‘Heen Ela’ canal near the Kirimandala Mawatha road and another canal near the ‘Water’s Edge’ golf course.
A boat service will be operated on the Heen Ela canal while cabanas in containers will be built to lure tourists to the flora and fauna in the marshlands.
Dredging of the canal near Water’s Edge will help prevent parliament from going under water during heavy rains.
A senior official of the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation also said they were building two lakes on the outskirts of Colombo to act as flood water retention areas.
A 24-acre land is being dug in the Rampalawatte area in Pelawatte along with another lake at Thalawatugoda.
