Environmentalists have pointed out that a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report has not been compiled on the Colombo Port City before commencing the project.
Environmental lawyer Jagath Gunawardena has been quoted in the media as saying, "This was the largest single foreign direct investment of around US$ 1.5 billion for the land development which have not done a comprehensive EIA by a project approval agency concurrently with the Central Environmental Authority.
He has told Daily Business News that for the port city construction work, the EIA done by the Ports Authority and approved by the Department of Coast Conservation, which is only the project approval agency without the concurrent approval of the Central Environment Authority (CEA).
Gunawardena has said that when a huge project of this nature is being constructed, it has to consider many components such as the land that is going to be filled, and ensure the standards of the land area and the raw materials that are going to be obtained.
When the government undertakes such a massive project one has to look at how they are going to obtain rock for the project and the environment impact that will occur when blasting rock in rock hills. "The project has not considered those aspects as well," Gunawardena has added.
Construction of the port city is a total investment of US$ 1,500 million and is carried out by a Chinese firm.
Environmental lawyer Jagath Gunawardena has been quoted in the media as saying, "This was the largest single foreign direct investment of around US$ 1.5 billion for the land development which have not done a comprehensive EIA by a project approval agency concurrently with the Central Environmental Authority.
He has told Daily Business News that for the port city construction work, the EIA done by the Ports Authority and approved by the Department of Coast Conservation, which is only the project approval agency without the concurrent approval of the Central Environment Authority (CEA).
Gunawardena has said that when a huge project of this nature is being constructed, it has to consider many components such as the land that is going to be filled, and ensure the standards of the land area and the raw materials that are going to be obtained.
When the government undertakes such a massive project one has to look at how they are going to obtain rock for the project and the environment impact that will occur when blasting rock in rock hills. "The project has not considered those aspects as well," Gunawardena has added.
Construction of the port city is a total investment of US$ 1,500 million and is carried out by a Chinese firm.
