Acceleration of Megapolis development requires private sector involvement: Project Head

By Shabiya Ali Ahlam

As Sri Lanka is on the lookout for ways and means to fast track its development, a senior official of the Western Megapolis Planning Project stressed the involvement of the private sector is imperative to expedite the process.
Stating the project team “does not know how” to get the implementation as fast as the public would want, Western Megapolis Planning Project, Project Director Lakshman Jayasekara said the ministry is working towards creating an enabling environment to facilitate private investment and leadership.
“This is the first time private leadership has been brought to the process of planning and implementation, and this will help strengthen the governance. I will assure you that the project will be transparent and will be implanted in such manner,” Jayasekara said while addressing a seminar on the progress of the project, last week. He stressed there will be no negotiated or unsolicited projects.
While there would be a few government to government projects, he said, the ministry indents to create “some kind of competition” between the countries keen on playing a role in this endeavour.
According to the head, many countries have expressed interest in the Megalpolis development, mostly in the area of transport. “We will be creating a step by step implementation for this. It is not simple but it is the right way. Transparency and good governance is embedded in the implementation of Megapolis,” assured Jayasekara.
Provide an update on the project that is called to be progressing ‘snail slow’; he said most of the lands needed for the project is currently under negotiation for purchasing or acquisition. Doing so now would ensure the availability of land when the project kicks off, he said.
Furthermore to ensure Megapolis development takes place in the “right” manner, Jayasekara pointed out that the rules, zoning and environmental guidelines for the same has been spelled out and will be launched today.
“This is to ensure there is some encouragement to have an orderly Megapolis development,” he said.