Siemens signs MoU with Megapolis Ministry to offer expertise on smart city solutions

Lakshman Jayasekara (Project Director / Team Leader, Western Region Megapolis Planning Project) exchanging the MOU with Anirudh Tandon (Country Manager, Siemens Limited Sri Lanka) in the presence of Patali Champika Ranawaka (Minister of Megapolis and Western Development)

Siemens, a renowned global leader in the area of Smart Cities, strengthened its partnership with Sri Lanka by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development to offer expertise and best practices from its globally-proven, state-of-the-art, sustainable, smart city solutions portfolio. 
The MoU was signed by Lakshman Jayasekara, Project Director / Team Leader, Western Region Megapolis Planning Project and Anirudh Tandon, Country Manager, Siemens Limited Sri Lanka, in the presence of Nayana Mawilmada, Head of Investments, Western Region Megapolis Planning Project, Sri Lanka; M.M. Anura Prasanna, Deputy Director, Urban Development Authority, Sri Lanka; Sunil Mathur, Managing Director and CEO, Siemens Limited India and Mr. Ranjith Pandithage, Chairman and Managing Director, Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC.
The prime objective of the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Developmentis to bring systematic changes and development processes into the urban community in Sri Lanka, which will ensure that the inhabitants of urban areas become a part of socio-economic development of the country while maintaining high levels in quality of life. 
In this context, the ministry envisages transforming the entire Western Province into a Megapolis area to usher in comprehensive development within the next five years. The scope of work under the Ministry’s purview would primarily include macro level planning of the Western Megapolis region based on bio-geo-physical and socio-economic aspects.
Lakshman Jayasekara, Project Director / Team Leader, Western Region Megapolis Planning Project, said, “We are extremely happy to partner with Siemens whose expertise and technologies will contribute to the Western Province’s intensive efforts to eliminate congestion pressures on urban infrastructure, services and environment with a focus on reducing the per unit capital cost of infrastructure.”
Sunil Mathur, Managing Director and CEO, Siemens Limited India, said, “Siemens is delighted to partner with the Government of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development in its endeavour to achieve the status of a ‘high income developed nation’. 
With its Global expertise, Siemens has the portfolio, the know-how, and the expertise to help cities become more liveable, more competitive and more sustainable. This will enable the national economy to leverage the benefits of economies of agglomeration brought about by urbanization.”
The Ministry plans to develop new cities in Bandaragama, Kadawatha, Kottawa and Kerawalapitiya surrounding the outer circular that will be soon under construction as a part of the Megapolis development plan.