CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd. and the Department of Town and Country Planning of the University of Moratuwa have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry in urban development, urban informatics, research, innovation and talent development.

Signed on 29 September 2026 at the University of Moratuwa, the agreement will create opportunities for students and academics to engage more closely with the development of Port City Colombo and its planning and development process.

A key focus of the partnership will be student development. The agreement provides for structured internships, industry exposure, academic projects and skills development, with opportunities for longer-term engagement through initiatives such as career fairs involving Port City Colombo-registered entities.

“As a master developer, we see value in working closely with universities because urban development is not something that happens in isolation. We see this as a partnership where both sides have something to gain. Students and academics gain closer access to a major urban development and the practical aspects that come with it, while Port City Colombo gets the benefit of working with people who are researching and thinking about the future of cities. That kind of exchange is something we want to develop further with the University of Moratuwa across all disciplines, as we build Port City Colombo as a platform to further expose Sri Lankan talent to the world,” said Mr Xiong Hongfeng, Managing Director, CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd.

The agreement builds on an existing relationship between Port City Colombo and the Department of Town and Country Planning, including previous student engagement through successful initiatives such as the Smart City Ideathon. The initiative gave students an opportunity to engage with urban development challenges related to Port City Colombo. The new agreement broadens this relationship into a more structured programme of research, academic exchange, innovation and industry engagement.

Building on this foundation, the two parties will explore opportunities for applied research and innovation in areas including urban informatics and smart city development. Student and faculty projects may be aligned with emerging urban challenges and areas relevant to Port City Colombo’s development.

“At a time when Sri Lanka is seeking new pathways towards smarter urban development, this partnership offers a timely opportunity to explore approaches that are not only technologically advanced but also grounded in our local needs, priorities and urban realities. By connecting urban informatics and planning with practical development experience, we hope to generate contextually relevant knowledge and innovative solutions that can inform the future development of cities across Sri Lanka,” said Dr. Rizvi Noordeen, Head, Department of Town and Country Planning, University of Moratuwa.

The agreement also provides a foundation for broader collaboration between Port City Colombo and the University of Moratuwa in the future. This could extend beyond the Department of Town and Country Planning to create opportunities for students across the University to upskill, gain industry exposure and engage with international companies operating within Port City Colombo. Such opportunities can give Sri Lankan students greater access to international business and professional experience without having to look outside the country to gain that exposure.

For Port City Colombo, the partnership reflects a broader ambition for the development to function as more than a collection of buildings and infrastructure. As a new city takes shape, its long-term value will also depend on the businesses, institutions, knowledge and innovation that develop within it. The partnership with the University of Moratuwa is one of the ways Port City Colombo is building those connections as the development continues to grow.

To learn more about the investment opportunities at Port City Colombo, please visit www.portcitycolombo.lk. For information on Single Window Investment Facilitation and regulatory matters, please visit www.portcitycolombo.gov.lk.

Image Caption - [From left to right]: University of Moratuwa: Dr. Chathura De Silva, Senior Lecturer, Department of Town and Country Planning; Dr. N.M. Rizvi, Head, Department of Town and Country Planning; Prof. (Ms) Y.G. Sandanayake, Dean, Faculty of Architecture; Mr. D.L.D. Jayantha, Registrar; Prof. K.T.M.U. Hemapala, Vice Chancellor.

CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd.: Mr. Xiong Hongfeng, Managing Director; Mr. Tian Zheng, General Manager, Land Development & Marketing; Mr. Shalaka Wijeyaratne, Executive Director/Deputy General Manager, Land Development & Marketing.