Massive three year project launched A BEIRA BONANZA
Posted by Unknown on Thursday, June 12, 2014 | 0 comments
The Defence and Urban Development Ministry launched a massive project spanning over three years to renovate the Beira Lake to enhance the beauty of the city and to redevelop lands adjacent to the lake, for more productive uses creating thousands of employment opportunities on the directive of Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.
According to project director N.A.S.N. Nissanka, the objective of this project is to reopen the Beira Lake to the public.
"This project is aimed at attracting more tourists and investment opportunities to the country too," he said.
He said this project includes the construction of linear parks along the Beira Lake with a width of six metres.
"The public can sit and enjoy the beauty of nature in these parks," he said. A jogging track along the lake is also to be constructed. All waste water outlets including sewerage lines to the Lake are being disconnected.
He added that the families living in under developed settlements along the Beira Lake are to be provided housing units with more facilities in the condominium housing schemes under construction. Warehouses and garages by the side of Beira Lake to be relocated to redevelop the lands for more productive uses. The first phase of the project costing over Rs. 1,500 million,is a relief to city dwellers and thousands of people coming to Colombo as the Beira Lake has become an eye sore to them.
"The Beira Lake was used as a dumping grounds for years and not for fruitful activity, creating an adverse impact on the environment and the lives of city dwellers. "Model parks are to be constructed in several places along the Beira Lake too. The public can use these parks for recreational activities.
"The Beira Lake constructed by the Portuguese for recreational activities was used by the Dutch for security purposes and the British for economic purposes.
"The British used the Beira Lake to transport goods to and fro from the Colombo harbour and goods were stored in warehouses by the side of the lake. The size of the lake has shrunk to a small area due to encroachments that have taken place for centuries," Nissanka added.
