A land area of 152 acres around the Beira Lake will be developed in the near future as part of the Megapolis initiative, with mixed development projects and hotels in the pipeline. While 95 acres will belong to state institutions such as the Ports Authority, Urban Development Authority and the Railways, the rest will be belong to private institutions.

The project, which is expected to kick off soon, will first look into clearing the waterways by blocking illegal water outlets and sewerage lines into the lake. About 800 families who live in the surrounding area will be relocated to high-rise flats that will be constructed close to the location.

It also requires the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) to stop the disposal of waste material and seal the unauthorised sewerage lines within two years by setting up treatment plants.

The project is initiated by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, after having studied similar projects in Singapore, and will also include a ‘Sri Lankan Eye’ in the Beira Lake, similar to the ‘London Eye.’