In The Press
Of NGOs, civil society and investors at large

Environmentalists, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), civil society and the media at large are an important part of a sustainable development process. Every country needs them and needs them to be operating freely, without hindrance or undue pressures from the government or any other authority. On the other side of the coin, there is also a need for these organisations and the media, to be fair, balanced and accurate in their reporting and activation in order for a country to have a healthy investment environment. It is this balance that can propel development.
When we look at today’s climate for sustainable investment versus development, the NGOs and the media play important roles in scrutinizing the environment impact, assessment reports, approvals given by the government authorities and even feasibility studies that are carried out. The Right to Information (RTI) Act helps the media on the transparency aspect and this writer saw it used quite effectively in a recent report by a leading weekend newspaper. The writer had used the RTI to obtain the central environment authority letter and pointed out various conditions attached to a licence.
While there is a need for a sophisticated approach towards analysing environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports, approvals and licences, one thing that is found lacking amongst the local NGOs is their lopsided approach towards activation programmes. Their general tendency is not to concentrate on the details and get to the bottom of an issue but rather, skim the surface and look for a sensational path. Most often this path leads towards riling up the local populace and inciting them to protest action, without spelling out all the facts to them.
There is a dire need for the grievances of communities affected by the development projects to be voiced and heard. But there is also a need for restraint when it comes to allowing false accusations to permeate the media. If such reports go unchecked and unverified by the relevant authorities and left solely for investors and developers to defend, what it adds up to is an unfriendly environment for these investors to do business in. The best solution therefore would be to have a tribunal of sorts where civil society could go and present their case and developers and investors could be brought to answer questions and find solutions, before getting into a situation street protest scenario.
In the case of a massive road development project, which was reported in the newspapers recently, it was stated that there were 92 conditions attached to the licence. While this looks quite humongous and prohibitive, what the reader and the general populace would most likely not know is that these conditions are part of licences after the evaluation of an EIA. The Port City had 72 conditions and at a recent meeting the government authority handling the project declared that over 80 percent of the conditions had been met. Even the conditions that were pending could not be marked as undone, as they were social engagement programmes, which were currently ongoing.
In public-private partnerships, the onus is not only on the private sector partner to see that everything runs smoothly. The government and its agencies too need to be active and it would be in the interests of all stakeholders that if and when conditions are met the government through the media keep the public informed. As much as it is necessary to inform the public about the fulfilment of obligations, it is also important to report instances where it is not done within the stipulated time frame - this is what is called transparency.
On December 5 last year, an English daily newspaper reported that Reverend Father Iddamalgoda, who has been a strong vocal opponent of the Port City project and said to be representing the island’s disheartened and helpless fishing community, had said that “scientific evidence is not always accurate; people’s traditional knowledge that has been gathered over the years has to be taken into account.” While this kind of statement can strike a human chord and result in an emotional response from marginalized communities, one could say that it is almost impossible to live only by native cunning (knowledge). If one takes the dredger movements for the Port City project, it could be tracked via GPS and the special app can be downloaded on to anyone’s phone to observe its movements. This becomes particularly important as there are conditions that do not allow sand dredging in the sea four kilometres away from the shore.
The NGOs, which had been closely monitoring the dredger movements over several weeks, suddenly found that the dredger was closer to the shore than what was allowed and had complained to the authorities. To make a long story short, the project company, the harbour master and other allied agencies were called upon for an explanation. The explanation itself was quite simple as there was some misunderstanding between nautical miles and kilometres and more importantly, the dredger, which was closer to the coast, was not dredging at the time but leaving to the dredging site from the Port of Colombo after undergoing some repairs. These NGOs must be commended for their vigilance, as well as the project company for diligently following the conditions.
The allied government agencies too have done a good job in seeing that the regulations are followed. But at the bottom of it all there is one important element in seeing that everything is on an even keel - and that is science. From monitoring dredger operations through a global tracking system to the monitoring process right down to it being trackable on a mobile device, it has all to do with good engineering and not just dependence on native knowledge.
However, one cannot blame the local NGOs for what they lack in scientific knowledge and sound thinking as most of them are founded on an agenda and thrive on emotions and passion. Be that as it may, it has to be understood that emotions and passions alone cannot bring prosperity and development. So there is need for a practical, realist, responsible and mature way to attracting foreign direct investment and that is not by eliminating civil society or the media and it is not also by leaving the investor hanging on a wire.
So, if we are looking for a solution, for starters we need to educate the public/civil society with the right information, for that we need the media to be objective in their approach towards reporting, i.e. get all the facts before taking a judgement call. We need the system to be transparent, even if it’s not; thankfully the RTI can help a lot in that direction. We need civil society to replace emotion with sense and last but not least, we need project companies to respond to correction.
The way to find this win-win situation will be difficult but it must be found if we are looking for the prosperity we badly need!
- Port City Colombo Commission Act - Special Economic Zone
- Colombo Port City: Wake up, dream on to reality – Part 1
- Stock Exchange signs MoU with CHEC Port City Colombo
- Port City Commission will act without fear or favour
- Colombo Port City clears first hurdle
- The SL state’s enduring role in the CHEC Port City Colombo project
- Port City Colombo donates 20 laptop computers to the Colombo Municipal Council for use at vaccination centers
- Port City Colombo donates high flow oxygen therapy machines to aid the battle against COVID-19
- Port City a hub for regional growth
- Sri Lanka – the Ideal Investment Destination
- Litigation against Sri Lankan parties will happen as usual within Port City
- Port City Would Increase SL’s Share in Modern Services - Aluwihare
- Colombo Port City blitz at NY Times Square
- President appoints three young private sector leaders to Port City Commission
- Gamini Marapana, PC, to head Port City Commission
- Port City Colombo donates PPE worth Rs. 2 mn to support cleanup of ship fire debris
- Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill comes into force
- Two-thirds NOD for Port City Bill
- Port City Colombo invites local, global companies to set foot on ‘Gateway to South Asia’
- Parliament passage for Port City
- Biz tycoon Harry J visits Colombo Port City
- The Energing International Legal Landscape and Unprecedented Opportunities for Young Lawyers
- Investor’s paradise at Port City Colombo
- Colombo Port City vs Dubai International Financial Centre
- Key to greater FDI and development - (PART II)
- Way forward for the proposed Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill
- Key to greater FDI and development
- Colombo Port City - Sri Lanka’s portal to the global financial economy
- South Asia to remain fastest growing region- ADB
- Like Singapore to ASEAN and Hong Kong to China, Colombo Port City is gateway to South Asia
- Colombo Port City, a Special Economic Zone
- Work of region’s most modern int’l Yacht Marina complete
- Work of region’s most modern int’l Yacht Marina complete
- ICCSL says Port City will be significant for Sri Lanka
- The Port City we need
- Book launch of ‘Foreign Policy Perspectives- Port City Colombo and International Financial Centre’
- Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill presented to Parliament
- Govt. gazettes Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill
- Project company welcomes Cabinet approval to establish Special Economic Zone at Port City
- Top Russian billionaire visits Colombo Port City
- Rs. 1 million worth school bags to 1,000 students in Monaragala from Port City Colombo
- Port City Colombo donates PCR equipment and testing kits valued at over Rs. 20 million, aiding the fight against COVID-19
- Port City – Colombo attracts world’s top investor Nathaniel Rothschild
- Cabinet gives approval to draft Colombo Ports Commission Bill
- Colombo Port City Special Economic Zone to break ground in mid-2021
- Browns and CHEC join forces for $ 450 m CIFC
- Port City Colombo's Competition Winners
- Raja Edirisuriya appointed new Executive Project Management Director for Port City
- Envision the Future - Local Designs with Global Identity – Port City Colombo announces the finalists for Sculpture Design Competitions
- China-funded Colombo Port City good example of public-private partnership: Sri Lankan minister
- Gotabaya brings National Priority Program under Presidential Secretariat
- Port City Colombo wins Global Best Project at 8th ENR Annual Awards
- Govt. Assures Law for Port City Will be Ready by 2020 end – Head of Strategy CHEC Port City, Tulci Aluwihare
- Colombo Port City, generator for Sri Lanka's future economic development
- Sri Lankan PM visits Chinese-built Colombo port
- Sri Lankan PM tours Port City, eyeing rosy future
- Port City will generate over 83,000 jobs - PM
- PM tours Colombo Port City Project on its 6th anniversary
- Best Project, Airport/Port Colombo Port City Development Project Phase 1
- Port City not only for Chinese investments – State Minister Tharaka Balasuriya
- Port City attracts int’l service oriented brands
- Huge demand for CIFC in region
- Colombo Port City and the big picture of US sanctions on Chinese firms
- Chinese builder says US blacklisting has no impact on Port City
- Chinese builder says US blacklisting has no impact on Port City
- A legislative design to attract investors to the Port City and CIFC after COVID-19
- PORT CITY TAKES SHAPE
- Colombo International Financial Centre Bill expected to be presented to Cabinet shortly
- Belgium, Singapore, Japan and Korea signal willingness to invest in Port City
- Port City Colombo Launches A Design Competition For A Beach Sculpture And An Interactive Wall
- Port City Colombo invites university students for remarkable competition
- Work on 10 Colombo Port City bridges expedited
- Port City review committee hands over final report to PM
- Port City SEZ laws ready by year end
- Cabinet approves $ 1 b project for Port City
- Public recreational area of Port City to open next year
- Port City to resume construction in full swing from mid-July
- Project company to pump in additional US $ 1bn to Port City
- Special Laws for Port City by Year-End - CHEC Strategy Head
- Port City will put SL on the map for services exports - Wignaraja
- Daily cleaning programme for Lassana Werala
- Chinese President Xi calls for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa
- Lanka’s post COVID-19 economy will boost with FDI influx - Bandula
- Business reopens to a world of new challenges
- The Belt and Road - Beyond the Debt Trap Discussion
- Lanterns sway in Sri Lanka's Port City Colombo on Vesak Day
- Is the 'Health Silk Road' a 'debt-trap' of China's BRI for Sri Lanka?
- Port City Colombo provides protective gear worth over Rs. 6 m to personnel in essential services
- No more trips to Singapore for arbitration
- Colombo Port City - Competing with international financial centres
- Port City could have US $ 4.6bn positive impact on SL’s BOP - PwC study
- Port City land likely to be priced above Rs.13mn per perch- PwC report
- Port City Colombo project sees rapid progress - Artificial beach to open in August
- International road shows to promote Port City
- Port City’s first overseas launch in Singapore this July
- New authority under President considered for Port City
- President makes observation visit to Colombo Port City
- CILT members visit CHEC Port City
- Chinese intellectual says cultural values drive Belt & Road Initiative
- Private sector wants govt. to play facilitator to fully harness BRI potential
- China built Port City in Colombo invests US$800mn, marina on track
- Port City creates social value for Sri Lankans
- Colombo Port City geared to key investments
- Port City unveils inaugural Social Responsibility report
- Port City marketing campaign likely after May
- New Banking Act from 2021
- Port City Colombo launches year-long project to clean-up Sri Lankan beaches
- Port City Colombo commits to maintain a cleaner beach
- Port City Colombo to welcome 2020 with captivating fireworks display
- Feature - Colombo Port City workers take pride in creating new land for Sri Lanka
- Port City Stamped into the Urban Fabric of Sri Lanka
- Port City opens for investors
- Sri Lanka to firmly support, accelerate Port City development-PM
- Professor Chandra Embuldeniya says, the Colombo Port City will become a “vital economic centre” in the region
- Interview- New Sri Lankan gov't ready to cement friendship with China, says PM
- Colombo Port City opens
- Port City to light up skies, as it becomes part of Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka needs modern laws to bring investments to Port City- Basil
- Port City Colombo signs MOU with NSBM Green University Town for industry partnership programme
- Colombo Port City has potential to become most advanced smart city in Asia- Hans
- Top architect calls for urgent measures to revitalise Colombo Fort to integrate with Port City
- Right policies, incentives key to tap transformative power of Port City, says real estate expert
- Port City now fully Sri Lankan owned - Tenders called for int’l meeting hall, school, hospital
- Colombo Port City land officially vested in Sri Lanka's Urban Development Authority
- Sri Lanka makes case for foreign investment
- Port City land sales to begin first half of next year
- Colombo Port City celebrates Children’s Day
- Port City could be game changer - Malaysian property leader
- Lord Naseby visits Colombo Port City
- Private sector insights to connecting dots in Sri Lanka’s development journey
- Learning Chinese language and culture through the Mid-Autumn or Moon Festival
- Construction of first elevated highway from Colombo Port City begins
- Port City - New legislation to provide titles for lands
- Sri Lanka to call investors for convention hotel, hospital on China reclaimed land
- CIFC draft law to be submitted to Cabinet this month
- Port City to transform condominium living
- Colombo Port City declared as urban development area under UDA
- Special Port City Law in final stage - Dr. Harsha De Silva
- Colombo’s property value to rocket following completion of mega project
- Colombo Port City Infrastructure development to be completed by mid next year
- Traders advised to invest in CHEC Port City Colombo
- Advantages of SL's Port City
- The green way to live
- Spotlight- Sri Lanka eyes int'l market opportunities in Colombo Port City
- Port City now part of Colombo District
- Port City now part of Colombo District
- Sri Lanka's Parliament approves mega Port City as part of island country's capital
- Laws to amalgamate Port City to Colombo
- Port City completes Rs. 500 m livelihood support program
- Liang Thow Ming speaks at Members Meet
- CHEC motors ahead on Port City after Easter attacks
- Sri Lankan youth win at ‘Silk Road & Young Dreams’ music competition
- Mega project aims to transform city into global center
- Separate Legislations on Port City by mid May
- Port City gets ISO 9001:2015 certification
- PM visits Port City
- Tax and policy incentives for Port City soon
- New entity to handle Port City land sales
- Port City to become catalyst for banking sector to reach Rs.30tn in assets by 2025
- Colombo Port City - Bidding process to be completed by May
- A new City in the making
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- Port City is here for all!
- Colombo Port City land sales to begin from June onwards
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- A future hub for trade and logistics in the Indian subcontinent
- Port City to give new facelift to Colombo
- Right of Reply by Megapolis Ministry The consequences of building Port City
- Sri Lanka releases new map with China-backed port city projects
- New Colombo map released
- Port City funds dansala in Kepungoda
- Feature: Hearts bound together, city built together -- China, Sri Lanka co-develop Colombo Port City
- Port City to create 83,000 jobs for Lankans
- Sri Lanka's China-backed Port City Sees Up To $4 Billion Investment Interest
- Standard Chartered Bullish On Port City Investments
- Urbanisation – A strategy to increase GDP
- Reclaimed Port City Ready To Reap Results
- Colombo Port City journey begins with the unveiling of DCR
- Port City unveils roadmap to prosperity
- Development Control Regulations of CPC released
- Port City and the future of Sri Lanka
- The city of yours Future is rising.
History is Looking at you for a name. - Response of CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd
- Financial City never sleeps
- Investment opportunities in Colombo Port City showcased
- Sri Lanka’s special Port City legislation to be presented soon
- Colombo will not sink due to Port City: Ranawaka
- Renovated community centre for Negombo fishing community
- Sri Lanka signs two MOUs with China for building complex in Port City, underground Marine Drive
- Sri Lanka signs two MOUs with China for building complex in Port City, underground Marine Drive
- Port City Where are we now?
- Port City reclamation to be completed by 1Q - 2019
- Port City construction in full swing
- Construction of three towers at Colombo Port City to begin soon
- Port City legislation to Parliament in March
- PM visits Port City
- Underground sea road: Study to be completed by March 2018
- Cabinet nod for $ 1 b financial city complex
- Govt. green-lights PPP for Port City tunnel link
- The Port City Project: Where Things Stand Now
- Govt. green-lights PPP for Port City tunnel link
- Green port city, with solar and wind power
- SLLRDC officials make tour on board Port City dredger
- Port City: Measures proposed to reduce air and noise pollution
- Negombo lagoon gets facelift
- Port City Project sustainability beyond philanthropy
- President’s Chief of Staff visits Port City Colombo
- Port City investor pumps in $1bn for Financial City complex
- Of NGOs, civil society and investors at large
- Building paradise: Houliang Jiang, MD of CHEC Port City Colombo
- Port City Colombo sponsors island-wide beach clean-up
- About 6.4 MT waste emptied to oceans yearly: Amaraweera
- Best of all cities
- Sri Lanka says Chinese-funded port city project to attract 1 bln USD of investment in next stage
- Port City and MTI collaborate to develop Sri Lankan entrepreneurship
- Government agencies review Port City progress
- Colombo Port City: Designing And Connecting Two Cities
- Port City facilitates health camps for fisher families
- Stop-Start Port City, OBOR flagship project, on again
- Colombo Port City leads with Urban Design Idea Competition
- Colombo on par with top world cities
- SOM Wins International Design Competition for Colombo Port City Master Plan in Sri Lanka
- Enclaves Of Elegance And Charm
- Over 45 percent of reclamation work completed
- Real Estate Plays Major Role In Sri Lanka’s Growth - Jll Report
- Nara To Monitor Aquatic Resources In Port City
- ‘One Belt, One Road’: Potential benefits for Sri Lanka’s real estate market
- Chinese companies continue assisting Sri Lanka flood victims
- Colombo Port City to attract US$ 15 bn when complete
- Colombo Port City and Megapolis discuss LRT plans
- US firm wins design competition held for the China-funded and executed Colombo Port City
- Sri Lanka charges ahead
- Lanka sees unprecedented economic revival: PM in Beijing
- Sri Lanka PM eyes increased infrastructure investment from China: Xinhua
- Roll up sleeves and work on B&R— Story of Sanjeewa: employee of CCCC Colombo Port City project
- China to build Colombo CBD under ‘Belt and Road Initiative’
- Chinese developers of Colombo Port City look for prospective investors
- CPC To Unveil In 30 Years With Aggressive Development
- Colombo Port City will take 30 years to complete
- CHEC Port City Colombo to transform Diyawanna Lake for Vesak
- China's US$15bn reclaimed city in Sri Lanka targets investors from the West, India, Middle East
- Port City to avert excessive presence of Chinese investors
- Port City’s revamped Website offers Clarity and Transparency
- One Belt & One Road Initiative: Beyond physical infrastructure
- Ranil determined despite looming external shocks
- Financial sector needs to be future-ready to ride the next wave
- CEA Chairman goes on board Port City dredger
- China-funded Colombo Port City becoming "shining pearl of Indian Ocean"
- Colombo Port City, Sri Lanka
- Redrawing the map of Sri Lanka
- Port City In The Making
- Chinese-backed Port City in Sri Lanka to attract $13bn in investment from 2018
- Chinese-backed Port City in Sri Lanka to attract $13bn in investment from 2018
- Luxury apartments boom not a bubble
- Taking a break
- Port City facilitates workshop to improve fisher folk’s income
- Fast-changing Colombo landscape
- Science is the best outpost for attack or defense Port City Project
- MPs on inspection tour of Port City site and dredger
- Extra land for public use
- Parliament approves several orders under Strategic Development Projects Act:To grant tax exemptions to Port City Project
- New Laws for Port City – Malik Samarawickrama
- Economists, Experts Air Their Views : Port City Project
- Colombo Financial City Project: NO IMPACT ON FISHERIES INDUSTRY: NARA
- Marine life not affected by Port City Project
- Colombo Int’l Financial City work in progress
- Tax exemptions for CHEC Port City project
- Prime Minister endorses Port City
- Mark Mobius shares his mantra for Sri Lanka
- SL contemplates standby agreement with IMF-PM
- Western Region Megapolis Plan to be unveiled in Jan 2016
- Sri Lanka's Prime Minister shows green light for port city after long haul back
- Environmental report clears Colombo Port City
- Colombo Port City public usage area increased
- Port City’s public area gets wider under EIA plan
- Sri Lanka's Colombo Port City will be eco-friendly, assure constructors
- Chinese-funded port city to help generate new businesses: report
- Colombo Port City won’t cause environmental disruption, says EIA
- Chinese company notes Port City will help Lanka
- Port City to create regional business hub
- Port City To Be Expanded
- Port city project will resume under new agreement
- China, India and Hong Kong top investors in Sri Lankan real estate- Lamudi
- Colombo Port City Development Project to generate over 100,00 jobs
- Presidents launch port city project
- Chinese President Xi Jinping launches $1.4 billion Sri Lanka port city
- Colombo Port City Project Launched