26 agencies connected to the Port City project met for the 4th review meeting and site visit last week. The Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management was the leading agency coordinating the review process while following agencies were amongst the complete monitoring panel, Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development, Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development, Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment, District Secretaries from Colombo, Gampaha, Divisional secretaries from Colombo, Thimbirigasyaya, Wattala, Ja-Ela, Negombo, Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Irrigation, Department of Archeology, Central Environmental Authority, Urban Development Authority, Road Development Authority, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Marine Environment Protection Authority, National Aquatic Resources and Development Agency (NARA), Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Cooperation, Board of Investment, Sri Lanka Navy, Municipal Councils of Colombo, Negombo and Pradeshiya Saba of Wattala.
A detailed presentation was made by Gamini Hewage, Director Coast Resource Management from the Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management on dredging activity, conditions of the permit, supply of quarry materials, stockpiling sites, solid, liquid & hazardous waste management, coastal engineering, beach profile monitoring, sea bed monitoring, social aspects of the project such as the income support and benefits program for fishermen and the reports that had been and are to be submitted according to the permit conditions.