Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Marine Resources, Ratna Gamage, has announced that the government does not support the proposed sea reclamation plan under the Galle Port City Development Project and has no intention of implementing it.
The Deputy Minister made this remark during an inspection visit to the Galle Fisheries Port, responding to a journalist’s query. He stated:
“The Galle Port City Development Plan was conceived by former ministers in this province during the previous government. We do not endorse this plan. It is not something our government created. This project proposes to reclaim sensitive land stretching from Galle Port to Rumassala. It’s an absurd and troublesome idea.”
He further expressed concerns about the project’s financial origins, adding:
“Funds must have been allocated somewhere to design this project. However, our government is shelving such plans. We are well aware of the environmental destruction caused by port city development projects.”
The Deputy Minister’s comments highlight the government’s stance against the initiative, citing environmental and administrative concerns.
Meanwhile, the Coastal Conservation Department has initiated a public consultation regarding the Comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report for the proposed sea reclamation activities under the Galle Port Development Project.
This development has sparked public discourse about the environmental and economic implications of large-scale coastal projects in Sri Lanka.
