President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has overseen discussions on transforming Colombo's historic Fort area into a major tourist destination, with plans to balance heritage preservation and modern infrastructure development.
A high-level meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat on Tuesday examined proposals to establish Colombo's Fort area as an internationally recognized tourist destination. The initiative brings together the Western Provincial Council, Urban Development Authority, and Colombo Municipal Council, with financial backing and technical assistance from the World Bank.
The development strategy prioritizes maintaining the area's historical and cultural significance while modernizing its infrastructure. A key component involves implementing structured traffic management solutions, with ongoing comprehensive studies aimed at alleviating congestion issues in the Fort district. Officials are also examining how the project can integrate with the nearby Colombo Port City and facilitate cruise ship tourism at the Port of Colombo.
During the meeting, President Dissanayake instructed responsible agencies to finalize a comprehensive master plan and coordinate future discussions with the Road Development Authority and Municipal Council. He particularly stressed the need to prioritize waterway development as part of the overall implementation strategy.
The project is expected to generate substantial economic benefits for Sri Lanka through increased tourism revenue and employment opportunities. The initiative reflects efforts to leverage Colombo's historical assets while positioning the city as a competitive international travel destination. Senior government officials, provincial representatives, and security leadership attended the consultation.
