Sri Lanka’s Megapolis Ministry yesterday called for Expressions of Interest (EOI) from interested parties to establish a ferry system along planned canals in Colombo and outlying areas on a public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Issuing a statement, the Ministry said that the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (SLLRDC) under the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development will initiate the tender process over the weekend for the first leg of a proposed ferry transport system.  The Ministry stated that Tenders will close on 24 July and a potential shortlist of investors is to be announced in nine weeks". The process is open to international and local investors and is supported by PPP advisors from the Government of the Netherlands, under a technical assistance initiative.

Wellawatte-Battaramulla (IW1) is considered to have the greatest potential to provide an urban transport solution and identified under the Megapolis Plan as immediately actionable. It intersects six main roads - Marine Drive, Galle Road, High level Road, Baseline Road, Nawala Road and Parliament Road - three of which are main corridors.  Fort-Union Place (IW2) has the potential to provide connectivity between the transport hub in Fort and commercial areas in Union Place. Mattakkuliya-Hanwella (IW3) travels along the Kelani River and has high potential to provide an alternate mode for the low level corridor.