The government cannot always fund its large scale projects on its own. Meanwhile, work on Megapolis is about to start.

“Projects such as the Megapolis, of which the implementation is about to start are great openings for Sri Lankan engineers to contribute” said Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bagthiudeen on 24 June at BMICH. Minister Bathiudeen was addressing the second day of the INCO 2017 Industrial Exhibition and Trade Fair, the customer focused industrial exhibition and trade fair in Sri Lanka by the Institution of Incorporated Engineers, Sri Lanka, supported by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. This is the 15th annual INCO exhibition to be held.

“Projects such as the Megapolis, of which the implementation is about to start, the Colombo Port Expansion, development of the region around the Hambanthota port and the Colombo financial city supported by China are great openings for Sri Lankan engineers to contribute for development” said Minister Bathiudeen and added: “I am pleased that many Sri Lankan engineers have come up with innovative designs and construction plans for these projects. Marine engineers have greatly contributed to Colombo port expansion designs. The Megapolis project which consists of a Tech City, a Logistics Area and a Marine Development Zone is one of the biggest challenges for Sri Lankan engineers. Megapolis is expected to greatly modernize the Western province to attract large scale international investors as it is planned similar to Singapore but five times larger. Even though the government wants to see more infrastructure development, it cannot always continue to fund large scale projects on its own. We need to enlist private sector as well and are planning to use Public Private Partnerships (PPP). PPP, to be successful, need to be supported by skills and technologies. In fact enhancing technological and engineering skills in Sri Lanka is important for us to ensure success of PPPs that we will be using in future. We will continue to support the INCO.”

The Ministry of Industry & Commerce, with its key objectives of enhancing the competitiveness of industries, regional industrialization, through Gamata Karmantha projects, Regional Industrial Estate Development projects, environment friendly industrialization, and productivity improvement, supports efforts of IIE -including the INCO series.

Photo - Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen inspects an infrastructure construction, outlay joined by Chairman of INCO Committee Eng. C. Wanasinghe (far right) on 24 June at BMICH, Colombo.