Colombo Port City has achieved a significant milestone in its journey to becoming a leading regional business and investment destination, following Cabinet approval granted in April 2026 for 77 Businesses of Strategic Importance (BSIs) under the Regulations of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act.
According to a media release issued by the company, these approvals mark a major advancement in the development of the Colombo Port City Special Economic Zone (SEZ), further strengthening its position as a globally connected hub for investment, innovation, and internationally traded services.
Among the approved entities are three Primary BSIs. These include Prime Melwa Port City (Pvt) Ltd and Marina Hotel Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, which are undertaking the development of a marina-front residential project and marina facilities, as well as Home Lands Port City (Pvt) Ltd, which is developing a mixed-use project adjacent to Central Park within the SEZ.
The combined land and development investment associated with these projects is valued at approximately Rs. 125 billion, including around US$262 million in foreign capital inflows expected over the next five years.
The release noted that feedback received from developers indicates strong market interest among prospective end users and investors for the planned residential and mixed-use developments. This positive demand outlook highlights the growing appeal of Colombo Port City’s emerging real estate market and reflects increasing confidence in Sri Lanka’s future as a competitive regional investment destination.
In parallel, the approved Secondary BSIs are expected to generate approximately US$364 million in foreign exchange inflows during the same period while creating an estimated 10,000 or more direct employment opportunities.
CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd, the project’s public-private partnership partner and master developer, has invested approximately US$1.4 billion in land reclamation and enabling infrastructure, creating a development-ready environment for investors.
With an estimated total development value of approximately US$15 billion upon completion, Colombo Port City stands as one of South Asia’s most significant foreign direct investment initiatives. Positioned as a gateway to South Asia and a regional business and lifestyle hub, the Special Economic Zone offers investors a compelling combination of regulatory certainty, competitive operating costs, strategic connectivity, and internationally aligned governance standards.
