The inauguration ceremony of the project to clean up and develop the Beira Lake and Canal, located in the heart of Colombo, will be held at the Seema Malakaya (the Floating Temple on Beira Lake) tomorrow (7) at 8.00 am.
This will be held under the guidance of Ven. Dr. Kirinde Assaji Thera of the Gangaramaya Temple and the event will be presided over by Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government, Dinesh Gunawardena.
Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Urban Development and Housing Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and Environment Minister Naseer Ahamed will also participate. In addition, around 150 distinguished local and foreign invitees too will take part.
A committee comprising members from the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Urban Development Authority, Central Environment Authority, Sri Lanka Climate Fund (Private) Company, and Colombo Municipal Council will monitor the implementation of the project.
Representatives nominated by the above institutions will be entrusted with the task of providing necessary instructions and facilities to the relevant company to implement the project. The project will be implemented by Groepo Lanka Bioscience (Pvt) Ltd. the local subsidiary of the company nominated for the project, Groepo Pte. Ltd.
The aim of the project is to clean up the Beira Lake which has been spreading a bad odour in the heart of Colombo, for half a century, due to pollution caused by human activities, and maintain water quality standards and use it for development activities.
Parallel to this project, measures will be taken to identify ways in which sewage and waste are disposed into the Beira Lake and introduce alternative methods for them.
This project will be implemented through grant assistance from Japan, with no burden to the Government Treasury. This assistance from Japan can also be described as the country showing its appreciation to Sri Lanka and also support to overcome the economic crisis.
Japan has always been supporting Sri Lanka as a true friend since its establishment of diplomatic relations 70 years ago when President J.R. Jayewardene made a historic speech at the San Francisco Peace Conference on September 6, 1951. While a number of countries argued for strict terms and sanctions against Japan for its part in World War 11, the then Finance Minister Jayewardene representing his country, argued for Japan’s independence and rejected war reparations. Later the San Francisco Peace Treaty was signed and Japan was readmitted into the international community. Reflecting on this friendly relationship, Japan has continued to support sustainable development in Sri Lanka and in recent times, has supported many initiatives showing the country’s backing for efforts by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to lift the country from the economic crisis.
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