Sanjeewa Alwis, an electrical and mechanical engineer with the China-funded Colombo Port City in Sri Lanka, is always excited about the project he gets involved in.
He has two daughters, Pekshi Advini and Methni Achinthi, who are equally excited about the project that their father is building in Colombo – a grand, ultra-modern business and entertainment center which is now rising from the ocean like a dream come true.
“How do you build it? Is it like building sand castles we love to build on the beach?” Advini and Methni would often ask their father.
To answer such questions from many Sri Lankan children, the Port City Colombo recently produced a picture book entitled “City Rising from the Ocean” to mark the 7th anniversary of the launch of the project.
The narration of the Port City story is by Sanjeewa who explains his work to his beloved daughters.
Sanjeewa Alwis, an electrical and mechanical engineer with the China-funded Colombo Port City in Sri Lanka is appearing in the picture book about the development of Port City. (Xinhua)
Twenty years back, Sanjeewa had studied electrical engineering and automation for six years at the prestigious Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. After graduation, he lived and worked in the Middle East for a long time.
A few years ago, when he learned that Sri Lanka and China were jointly building the Port City Colombo, he decided to return to his homeland and work on the spectacular project.
In 2016, Sanjeewa and his family moved back to Sri Lanka. Soon after, he joined the Port City team. “I was finally able to use the knowledge I learned in China to work in my hometown,” he said.
This is a page from a picture book for Sri Lankan children produced by China-funded Colombo Port City to celebrate the 7th anniversary of the project. (Xinhua)
Launched in September 2014, the Port City Colombo is a cooperative project between Sri Lanka and China. It plans to reclaim 269 hectares of land from the Indian Ocean to build a brand-new central business district (CBD) integrating finance, tourism, logistics, and information technology in Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo.
Previously, many people in Sri Lanka did not have a full understanding of the significance of the project. “One of my responsibilities was to explain its significance to local officials so that the infrastructure in the Port City could be developed as quickly as possible,” said Sanjeewa.
In January 2019, the Port City project reached a milestone with the reclamation of 269 hectares from the ocean. “At that moment everyone in Port City was thrilled,” Sanjeewa said excitedly.
This is a page from a picture book for Sri Lankan children produced by China-funded Colombo Port City to celebrate the 7th anniversary of the project. (Xinhua)
Believing that the Port City is an unprecedented project in Sri Lanka’s history, he said “What we are doing now will be a sample of Sri Lanka in the future.”
On the completion of the reclamation project, scenic places and facilities such as green parks, artificial beaches, yacht piers, golf courses will come up.
“With increasing publicity being given to the Port City in the local media, people in Sri Lanka are becoming more aware of the project and are looking forward to enjoying the benefits and facilities there,” Sanjeewa said.
He and his daughters are proud that they are appearing in the picture book, however, Sanjeewa regretted that neither of his daughters visited the Port City in person.
This is a page from a picture book for Sri Lankan children produced by China-funded Colombo Port City to celebrate the 7th anniversary of the project. (Xinhua)
“The book will give information to children on how the Port City is being built and what it will look like in the future. It is a good way of passing knowledge to the younger generation,” Sanjeewa said.
Methni, a student of grade 11, said what she loves most in the book is the description of playing with the sand and building a sand castle on the beach.
“It could be the same as putting up buildings in the Port City. After reading this book, we will look forward to living and working in the Port City and enjoying the facilities there,” said the girl.
“Most of my classmates know my father works in the Port City and they ask about his work. We will share the book with our classmates so that they can get a good idea of how the city is being built,” added Advini, who is one year older than Methni.
Chairman of the National Library of Sri Lanka, Sonala Gunawardana introduces the picture book” City Rising from the Ocean” at the online launch ceremony in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sept. 17, 2021. (Xinhua)
At the online launch ceremony of the book earlier this month, Chairman of the National Library of Sri Lanka, Sonala Gunawardana, said that it is a story narrated through a children’s view in which the Port City is coming to life.
This is the most promising project for our country and the beneficiaries are none other than our children and future generations, Gunawardana added.
“Rising from the Ocean is a real story that our children can truly experience,” said Dinesh Kulathunga, President of the Sri Lanka Board on Books for Young People.
Haa Dhaalu atoll Hanimaadhoo island council has announced a 50-year lease on 14 plots from the island for tourism development purposes.
In the announcement put on gazette by the council, it has opened bid opportunity for interested bidders to lease the plots from Hanimaadhoo’s tourism zone.
The council has announced lease of 5,000 square feet plots for a 50-year lease period, for which interested proponents are required to register for the bids before 13:00hrs on April 30th, 2024.
For proponents wishing to mail the bid registration form, they can mail it to info@hanimaadhoo.gov.mv.
Proponents must furnish a bid registration, non-refundable, fee of MVR 1,000 for the 5,000 square feet plots. If proponents wish to acquire more than one plot, then they must pay MVR 1,000 per plot.
If the council annuls the announcement, it said the registration fees will be refunded to the proponents, and added the proponents will receive bid books upon registration.
Bid acceptance and opening are scheduled for April 30th, 2024 as well.
While the Hanimaadhoo International Airport is under an expansion project, the island has been putting efforts to increase its local tourism activities as well.
During his last month visit to Hanimaadhoo, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said the airport’s expansion will contribute towards increased tourism activity in the island.
He also said sustainable development cannot be achieved without individual development of key regions which include Hanimaadhoo as well.
Agreements pertaining to the Laamu Integrated Maritime Hub Project have been signed with a Chinese company, aiming to accomplish the commitments made by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. The contract laying groundworks for this transformative endeavor was signed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) Mohamed Wajeeh and the General Manager of CAMC Engineering Li Wei Wei.
Outlined within the agreement are details of six subprojects:
Launching offshore bunkering services
Developing a cruise terminal
Establishing a super yacht marina
Developing Gaadhoo as an Eco-resort
Establishing a facility to store regionally produced food items
Building a transshipment port
Providing insight into the developmental project, CEO Wajeeh underscored MPL’s ongoing efforts to secure a relevant market. He envisioned attracting international shipping lines to the transshipment port, anticipating a significant economic boost from even a single shipping line. Discussions are also underway with cruise operators to initiate cruise terminal operations.
MPL disclosed proposals from two companies to assist in providing bunkering services. While Vitol Bunkering, currently involved in developing bunkering facilities in Haa Alif Atoll, is one of them, the second company expressing interest hails from Dubai.
The establishment of a commercial port and a harbor including logistics is a commitment outlined in the governments’ manifesto.
India has approved highest-ever export quotas for essential commodities to Maldives for the year 2024-25, including eggs, wheat flour and onions, as well as river sand and stone aggregates.
In a statement on Friday, the Indian High Commission said the quota for export of essential commodities was renewed at the request of the Maldivian government.
“The approved quantities are the highest since this arrangement came into effect in 1981,” reads the statement.
The quota for river sand and stone aggregates, crucial items for the booming construction industry in the Maldives, have been increased by 1,000,000 MT. There has also been an increase of 5 percent in the quotas for eggs, potatoes, onions, sugar, rice, wheat flour and dal (pulses).
The export quota approved for 2024-25:
Eggs: 427,536,904.20
Potatoes: 21,513.08 MT
Onions: 35,749.13 MT
Rice: 124,218.36 MT
Wheat flour: 109,162.96 MT
Sugar: 64,494.33 MT
Dal: 224.48 MT
Stone aggregate: 1,000,000 MT
River sand: 1,000,000 MT
Despite global restrictions on the export of rice, sugar, and onions from India last year, New Delhi continued to provide these crucial commodities to the Maldives.
The high commission said the move underlines India’s strong committed to supporting human centric development in the Maldives, as part of its ‘Neighborhood First’ policy.
Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer on early Saturday said India’s gesture to renew the quota to allow the export of certain quantities of essential commodities signifies the longstanding bilateral friendship, and the commitment to further expand trade and commerce.
“I sincerely thank EAM @DrSJaishankar and the Government of #India for the renewal of the quota to enable #Maldives to import essential commodities from India during the years 2024 and 2025. The newly approved quantities of essentials have been increased under the unique bilateral mechanism between the two countries, even as ties between Male and New Delhi remained tense in recent months,” Zameer said in a post on X.
His Indian counterpart, Dr. S. Jaishankar, responded that “India stands firmly committed to its Neighborhood First and SAGAR policies.”