Nahil Wijesuriya clarifies Beira Lake restoration funding remarks

Renowned philanthropist Nahil Wijesuriya has clarified recent state media reports suggesting that he had offered financial assistance for the Beira Lake restoration project, according to a report by the state newspaper Dinamina. Wijesuriya stressed that while he remains committed to supporting genuine efforts to rehabilitate the Beira Lake, his offer was one of technical expertise, not financial support. “At the meeting in question, I stated that I am willing to provide my technical expertise and professional knowledge on how the restoration can be undertaken effectively,” he said, noting that he had previously provided similar assistance free of charge during the tenure of former UDA Minister Mangala Samaraweera. Drawing on decades of engineering experience, including service as Chief Engineer of Colombo Dockyard and international work with P&O Lines and the Ceylon Shipping Corporation, Wijesuriya emphasized that successful restoration requires careful planning, sound engineering, and a long‑term science‑based approach. “I remain ready to contribute my expertise in the national interest if the Government wishes to draw upon it. It is important that my comments are accurately represented. My offer has always been one of technical assistance, not financial assistance,” he added. Wijesuriya’s comments come after it was recently reported that he had agreed to provide full financial support for a special technical project using seawater as a short-term solution to clean Colombo’s Beira Lake. At the time , it was reported that the entire cost of the initiative was to be funded by Nahil Wijesuriya. (Newswire)