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by Jamila Najmuddin
COLOMBO, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- A mega port city project is set to change the face of Colombo, the Sri Lanka's capital city, in the coming years.
The 1.4-billion-U.S. dollar project, which is currently under construction near the Colombo Harbour, is Sri Lanka's largest foreign investment.
The project is an investment of China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC) and has to date employed hundreds of locals, a boon given the high rate of unemployment of the island country.
"I feel very proud to be contributing towards this project as a Sri Lankan. The project is going to create more than 80,000 jobs within the next 20 years, which will benefit Sri Lanka immensely," said Chiranthi Balapatabandi, Marketing Communications Executive of CHEC Port City Colombo, the project's contractor.
Balapatabandi said that the project would help promote Sri Lanka's economy by encouraging foreign direct investments and private sector growth.
Sri Lanka, taking advantage of its strategic location, is seeking strong role in China's Belt and Road Initiative.
The port city will be the first of its kind in the South Asian region and will transform Sri Lanka into an international financial and business hub in the Indian Ocean region.
"The Colombo port city will make Colombo a better place for Sri Lankan living overseas to return back to their motherland to work and live. I truly believe the project is going to help Colombo become a vibrant business hub in South Asia," Balapatabandi said.
The project, which initially began construction in September 2014 under the former government, was suspended in March 2015 by President Maithripala Sirisena's government due to environmental concerns.
However, in March 2016, the project was given the nod from the government after successful discussions between the two countries and with all environmental reports cleared.
Workers have now resumed work, taking shifts round the clock to construct the first phase of the project.
Employees said they also benefit immensely from the knowledge of Chinese professionals involved in the project.
"Our Chinese colleagues are very friendly and polite. I am really happy working for the Port City project and CHEC has given me a good opportunity with a good salary," said Jagath Kurathunga, who is employed as a driver of the CHEC Port City Colombo.
Kurathunga is a father of three children. Ever since being employed by the CHEC, his life has changed and his earning has enabled him to offer better life to his children.
Kurathunga said he hoped to see the port city completed soon.
"The CHEC has put the best resources and facilities into this project, for instance, the Asia's biggest dredger Jun Yang One is working for the project," said Chandana A. Gunawardana, Deputy Project Manager of Colombo Port City Development Project.
Gunawardana, who has been working for several projects under the CHEC during the past 10 years, said the project's one-year suspension has created temporary unemployment for many, but it was back in full swing now.
Gunawardana said the Colombo port city project is the largest project in his career, adding it would provide wide opportunities for Sri Lanka and its people.
