Govt. to convert Colombo into high-end shopping destination

• Tourism Minister says SL will be the best shopping destination in SA 
• 1.5 million square area of shopping space, nine shopping malls by 2020

By Charumini de Silva

The Government is concentrating on converting Colombo into a high-end shopping destination where major development projects and historic buildings will include retail space for global brands.

Tourism Development Minister John Amaratunga said on Thursday that an area around Galle Face and Colombo Fort will have major shopping malls within the next three years, which will help attract shoppers from around the world to Sri Lanka.

“The historic buildings in Colombo Fort will be converted into a shopping area that will also include hotels. The Whiteaways building is one of them, while many are in the pipeline. In the Galle Face area Shangri-La will have a similar facility and then there will be the Port City. All these augur well for Sri Lanka to become a new shopping destination in the Indian Ocean,” he added.

The Minister claimed that although Sri Lanka has many international brands available for tourists at a competitive rate, the shopping malls are not in one cluster and therefore the full benefit of reaching out to the shopping travellers has not been tapped.

“Now the Government is seriously considering putting the shopping malls together in Colombo. In two years the tourists who occupy five-star hotels will be able to walk down on a street and do their shopping in one go,” Amaratunga said.

He said: “Decide shopping; Sri Lanka is the best destination in South Asia.”

Sri Lanka Retailer’s Association (SLRA) Chairman Hussain Sadique said 1.5 million square area of shopping space will be available in the city of Colombo, which will include nine major shopping malls.

Noting that retail and tourism can contribute significantly to the national economy, he stressed that Sri Lanka is now heading in the right direction.

“Overall we feel ready to become a shopping destination in the region. The Government’s thinking is right. The infrastructure is coming up, Sri Lanka Tourism has strategic plan and it is now about execution. I am hopeful we will be in a better position within the next three years,” Sadique pointed out.

He said the retail sector was now growing at around 20% and these initiatives were a foundation for a great shopping destination.

Recreational coast from Dehiwala to Colpetty

The Cabinet of Ministers this week approved a project to create a recreational coast from Dehiwela to Colpetty. 

The project, proposed by Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, also envisages reducing soil erosion and providing space for additional railway lines.