(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –The Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation has taken steps to launch a passenger boat service from Colombo Fort to Union Place through the Beira Lake to ease traffic congestion in the city.
The first observation tour of the air conditioned passenger boat created by the Sri Lanka Navy took place under the patronage of the Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, Patali Champika Ranawaka yesterday.
With the launch of this service, it is possible to travel from Colombo Fort to Union Place in less than 15 minutes. The boat service has been identified as an ideal solution to ease traffic congestion.
The Cabinet of Ministers in August 2018 approved the project to maintain an Inland Water Transport service across the canals and waterways as a Public‑Private Partnership project. Initially the service from Battaramulla to Wellawatta from Fort to Union Place via Beira Lake, from Mattakkuliya to Hanwella across Kelani River and other waterways received the approval.
As an initial step before the commencement of the implementation of the project under a Public‑Private Partnership model, Fort to Union Place via Beira Lake service was implemented as a pilot project for a period of two years with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Navy.
