Business

Proposed coastal structures for Mawella Bay causing concern among investors

Published

5 years ago

2021/11/12

By Ifham Nizam

Tourism real estate investors recently expressed concern about some proposed coastal structures to be constructed in Mawella Bay.

They say the said constructions have not been decided on any scientific basis and are bound to cause massive destruction of the Mawella coastline.

An investor told The Island Financial Review that they are concerned as no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was done but only an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE), which is not sufficient considering the fact that all stakeholders in this ecologically fragile landscape were not consulted.

Their fears were compounded in September and the early part of October when the sea came right up to the mangrove level taking over large portions of the beach. This is just after one part of the proposed constructions, i.e. an anchorage, was built in the bay area.

Zander Combe – part owner Halcyon Mawella Hotel said that it is high time the government considered seriously protecting Sri Lanka’s tourism areas as it is imperative that they are protected for the future generations and the economic future of Sri Lanka.

“There is no scientific evidence that building these coastal structures has any positive effect on the environment, quite the opposite in fact, he added.

He also said investors in the tourism industry need to be assured that their investments are safe going forward and areas like Mawella need to be protected so that tourism can grow and the local communities can benefit from the upcoming boom in Sri Lanka tourism.

They also say there is no real need for an anchorage because most of the fishermen in the area pull their boats on to the beach, adding to the tourist attraction.

Mawella Bay up to now remains one of Sri Lanka’s beautiful untouched beaches. It is two kilometers long, pristine and well suited for high- end tourism. This is one of the few beaches on the island’s southern coast that is calm, serene and is swimmable all year round. Leaving aside the tourism potential, the changes seen on the beach since these constructions began, show signs of people living in the area also being negatively affected as a result of these coastal protective hard structures.

The real estate investors point to three reports done by experts on the damages caused to coastal areas by man- made hard structures. The 1988 report on ‘Coastal Area Management in Sri Lanka’ by Kem Lowry of the University of Hawaii and H.J.M. Wickremeratne of the Coast Conservation Dept. which says some of the structures built by the CCD were without any scientific understanding of the local coastal dynamics, resulting in the ‘solution’ to prevent erosion in one area causing considerable erosion elsewhere. The report cites several examples where this occurred and says these were probably done under public pressure to prevent erosion but proved to be disastrous.

A more recent research project carried out by the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) in March 2021 titled, ‘Are coastal protective hard structures still applicable with respect to shoreline changes in Sri Lanka?’, refers to human influence on nature. It says the application of hard structures is least able to control coastal erosion in a large area because while it may be good for the site it is not helpful for adjacent areas. It says the environment will remain under its natural conditions as long as humans introduce no alterations.

While both reports point to hard structures doing more damage than good, let’s explore another report presented by Professor Charitha Pattiaratchi, Professor of Coastal Oceanography at the University of Western Australia, who has done his research specifically on the proposed hard structures for Mawella Bay.

The proposed structure includes a 300 meters long stone anchorage which is already built and two offshore breakwaters to mitigate erosion. While the anchorage is already causing some concern among bay area landowners and residents, there is a contrary view on the two breakwaters from the eminent coastal scientist.

He says the construction of the two 60m offshore breakwaters is not recommended because they are located in a region with high waves and current activity.

‘The region for the proposed breakwaters is a highly complex region in terms of hydrodynamics and sand transport. The breakwaters will retain sand in the lee which will interrupt the alongshore transport of sand. As the sand retained would be from regions along the ~1.5 km length of beach there is a strong probability of extreme erosion in other regions of the Bay, says Professor Pattiarachchi.

Reopening of the tourism industry is absolutely necessary to protect livelihoods and businesses and beach tourism has a lot of potential in helping the country grow and boost the economy. If these natural locations that can serve the people aren’t protected, the country is throwing away opportunities that it then has to build up from elsewhere.

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Business

USA–Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce plans New York campaign to promote Tourism and Business

Published

22 hours ago

2026/10/19

Thilina Walpola

The initiative will provide Sri Lankan businesses with a vital platform to introduce their products and services to the American market

Timing aligns with national policy discussions

By Sanath Nanayakkare

The USA–Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce is exploring an innovative promotional initiative to showcase Sri Lanka’s tourism, cultural heritage, and commercial opportunities in the heart of New York City during the upcoming Christmas and holiday season.

The proposed campaign aims to bring Sri Lanka’s unique identity to one of the world’s most internationally recognized cities through a mobile digital billboard featuring high-quality photographs and videos highlighting the island’s natural beauty, rich heritage, and diverse commercial offerings. Designed to capitalize on New York City’s significant holiday-season foot traffic, the initiative will reach American consumers, international tourists, and potential business partners.

The digital showcase will feature pristine beaches, scenic mountains, waterfalls, tea plantations, wildlife, ancient cities, Buddhist heritage, traditional arts, authentic cuisine, and modern attractions, positioning the country as a premier international travel destination. An interactive QR code linking to comprehensive tourism information will also be incorporated, allowing viewers to directly explore travel opportunities.

Beyond destination promotion, the initiative provides Sri Lankan businesses with a vital platform to introduce their products and services to the American market. Enterprises representing Ceylon tea, spices, food products, gems and jewellery, apparel, handicrafts, wellness, hospitality, and tourism will have the opportunity to showcase their brands alongside the broader national campaign.

The Chamber notes that this effort will be particularly beneficial for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking greater international exposure, brand recognition, and commercial partnerships in the United States. By integrating tourism promotion with commercial visibility, the project aims to strengthen Sri Lanka’s international image while supporting trade, investment, and business development.

Operating under the central message of “Discover Sri Lanka. Experience Sri Lanka. Visit Sri Lanka,” the campaign presents the island as a destination defined by natural beauty, cultural richness, distinctive products, and entrepreneurial potential. More information on the initiative is accessible at www.usaslcc.org.

Tourism sector stakeholders have welcomed the move, noting that private-sector-led initiatives of this nature bypass cumbersome bureaucratic procurement procedures and complex tender processes typically associated with state-run promotional campaigns abroad.

The timing aligns with recent national policy discussions regarding tourism promotion. Participating in a Fireside Chat at the inauguration of the Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit 2026, organized by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized that a proper procurement mechanism needs to be established before acquiring tourism promotional concepts, recommending a performance-based system where agencies are compensated according to verified growth in tourist arrivals.

Business

Seylan Bank partners Colombo Motor Show 2026 as official banking and leasing partner

Published

22 hours ago

2026/10/19

Thilina Walpola

For 10th consecutive year

Seylan Bank PLC, the Bank with a Heart, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s automotive industry by partnering with the 20th edition of the Colombo Motor Show 2026 as the Official Banking & Leasing Partner for the 10th consecutive year. This makes Seylan Bank the longest-standing partner of the Colombo Motor Show, further reflecting its longstanding association with one of Sri Lanka’s most prominent automotive exhibitions. The four-day exhibition is scheduled to take place from 20th to 23rd November 2026 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), marking the first time the Colombo Motor Show will be held as a four-day event.

As one of Sri Lanka’s leading international motor and motor accessories exhibitions, the Colombo Motor Show will bring together vehicle enthusiasts, prospective buyers, industry professionals and automotive service providers. The 2026 edition is expected to feature over 200 trade stalls covering motor vehicles, accessories, spare parts, lubricants, tyres, batteries, leasing facilities and other motor-related services.

Through its continued partnership, Seylan Bank will showcase a comprehensive range of financial solutions designed to support customers in meeting their personal and business needs, with a particular focus on Seylan Leasing facilities. Visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to receive on-the-spot leasing evaluations and expert guidance from Seylan Leasing Specialists, helping them explore vehicle financing options conveniently during the event.

Business

WCIC sharpens focus on scaling women-owned businesses

Published

22 hours ago

2026/10/19

Thilina Walpola

WCIC Office Bearers

The Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC) is sharpening its focus on helping women entrepreneurs move beyond business creation towards sustainable growth, as it expands its membership, partnerships and advocacy footprint.

WCIC Chairperson Gayani de Alwis, concluding her second tenure, highlighted the Chamber’s efforts had increasingly centered on creating pathways for women to translate entrepreneurial ambition into viable enterprises and, importantly, build those businesses for the longer term.

“Ultimately, our impact is not measured by the number of programmes we conducted, but by the women whose businesses grew, whose voices became stronger, whose horizons expanded and whose contribution to the economy became greater,” she said addressing the WCIC 41st Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on 22 September for which the Chief Guest was Canadian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Isabelle Martin.

The focus has included a special initiative for female university students with an entrepreneurial mindset, regional chapter initiatives in the Northern Province, capacity-building programmes and the inaugural ‘Beyond Ramp Up’ workshop.

The Chairperson said these initiatives were designed to move women “from aspiration to enterprise, and from enterprise to sustainable growth”, signaling a broader focus on strengthening the progression of women entrepreneurs beyond the initial stages of business formation.

WCIC recorded a 20 percent increase in membership during the period with membership crossing 460 and expanded its ecosystem through a series of strategic partnerships.

Internally, WCIC moved to strengthen its governance framework, revising its Articles of Association to ensure regulatory compliance and introducing a Code of Conduct and Board self-assessment. Clearer organisational roles, job descriptions and performance targets were also introduced as part of efforts to strengthen accountability and professionalise its operations.

Reflecting on her tenure, the Chairperson said the period had been about building a stronger, more connected and professionally governed organisation, while converting its wider ambitions into tangible opportunities for women in business.