Environment Ministry to look into Chinese company pulling out of Ambuluwawa Cable Car Project

15 January 2026 11:04 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 8 Bookmark

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Colombo, Jan. 15 (Daily Mirror) - Claiming that he was concerned after the China-based Amber Adventures (Private) Limited pulling out of the Ambuluwawa Cable Car Project, Environment Minister Dammika Patabedi said yesterday he instructed the Ministry to look into the matter, saying that the government is not at all keen on any investors leaving the country.

He told the Daily Mirror that the Environment Ministry has no deal with the Company as the project comes under the Board of Investment (BOI).

The Minister said construction activities at the Ambuluwawa Environmental Zone were suspended following complaints received from environment organisations after the Ditwah cyclone.

He said construction activities can resume if the technical assessment by experts clears the constructions.

The Minister said that all construction activities at risk areas were suspended after the Ditwah cyclone until the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO)issues a clearance report. He said that complaints were received that the construction at Ambuluwawa was continuing sans NBRO clearance.

He said , having considered the complaints, the Ministry instructed the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) to look into the matter and the CEA suspended the constructions pending a technical assessment by experts.

The Ministry of Environment ordered the immediate suspension of all construction activities within the Ambuluwawa Environmental Zone, pending a technical assessment by experts.

In the wake of the suspension, China-based Amber Adventures (Private) Limited – the country’s first cable car venture - officially pulled out of the Ambuluwawa Cable Car Project, citing what it called ‘ regulatory obstruction and arbitrary state action’.

Comments - 8

Satya Sakya Thursday, 15 January 2026 12:13 PM

This sets a bad precedent for any investors considering bringing their money here to start projects that would benefit the people and the country’s economy. Clearly, approvals must have been granted by all relevant government authorities before the project began. Therefore, if any issues arise later, they should be resolved harmoniously and professionally by those same authorities. Instead, the authorities appear to be using heavy-handed tactics—similar to how they treat local investors along the Nuwara Wewa—an approach this government seems to favour as long as it earns brownie points from its supporters. This reflects very poor problem-solving ability on the part of those involved.

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Insider Thursday, 15 January 2026 12:34 PM

On the other hand to call precautionary measures taken as ‘ regulatory obstruction and arbitrary state action’. is both high handed and peevish. The company is compelled to address our concerns as well and not arbitrarily think only they are right. May be they have not heard that term "Safety first".

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Ranga Thursday, 15 January 2026 12:58 PM

SL needs to start being professional and act professionally Acting on environment organisations is silly and damage the reputation of the country

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maha Thursday, 15 January 2026 02:09 PM

Environmental organization

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Jen Thursday, 15 January 2026 02:57 PM

As usual a post exit analysis. Proposals of the very few foreign investments are dragged to a point that the frustrated investors have to leave in disgust. Rulers may have changed but the corrupt and incompetent bureaucrats are the same.

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K.M.suraweera Friday, 16 January 2026 06:57 PM

Hon.Minister; You should act wisely when dealing with investors,who choose our country for making investments.Pl.advise your environment experts to think about the bigger bad effects their so-called expert opinions wiil have on the ongoing projects carried out incurring big expenditures rather than the inconsequiential benefits their so-called expert opinions bring forth.After all they dont definitly say what will actually happen and they are always mere forecasts which may happen or may not happen. Thet recent Ditwah cyclone is a case in point.Initially they could not express a definite opinion. Hon.Minister,this is the fourth investor to close shop and leave the country which wii further erode the investor confidance.If you cannot handle the affairs of the ministry properly, please resign and make room for a competent person to take over the job.What the country now needs is not novices but competant ministers to put the country on the road to progress.

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A Concerned Environmentalist Saturday, 17 January 2026 03:52 AM

The Bona Fide's of the said company is questionable. The approval for such a project had been expedited by political influence. Yes an investigation is justified to establish what transpired frombegining to end.

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Chathuranga Saturday, 17 January 2026 06:15 PM

Minister should check the who are the shareholders of this Chinese investment company. Only a single shareholder is Chinese and rest of the shareholders are linked to D.M.Jayarathne's family.

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