Google begins capturing Sri Lankan streets

Global technology leader Google Inc. yesterday said it would begin imaging Sri Lanka for its ‘Street View’ service to create new views of the country to share with the world.

“Our attractions should go to digital media. This will allow more people to discover Sri Lanka and at the same time, allow people in Sri Lanka to explore new parts of their country online,” Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Director General D.S. Jayaweera said.

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(Source: Daily Mirror)

Crow Island beach park development gets under way with WB assistance

Crow Island in Mattakkuliya, a landscape similar to that in the Eastern coast with a slum environment, thin lanes tightly packed with dwellings, Hindu kovils and churches is to be developed into a public recreational facility under the Metro Colombo Urba Development Programme (MCUDP) with World Bank assistance next year.

The total cost for the Crow Island beach park project is in the region of Rs. 275.78 million. The Crow Island is a neglected strip of land of about five acres located close to the Kelani river mouth. A team of architects and experts on beachfront development projects in the Asia–Pacific region has been entrusted with the task of designing the park for the benefit of people of all ages and all walks of life living particularly in the Colombo North region.

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(Source: Sunday Times)

ITC Hotels launches one of largest ever foreign investments in Colombo

A luxury hotel complex with residences and office complex will soon be built in Sri Lanka by an Indian conglomerate.

ITC Chairman Y.C. Deveshwar said that ITC Colombo was one of the largest investments of the ITC hotels’ group of India under which a luxury hotel with 350 rooms with 130 luxury residences along with retail and office space will come up, making these comments at a ground breaking ceremony held this week at Galle Face. The total investment component of the project is estimated at US$300 million.

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(Source: Sunday Times)

Trillium launches super luxury apartments at Col -7

Trillium Colombo 7, a super luxury apartment complex under the Trillium brand will be developed in a very prestigious location in Torrington Avenue Colombo 7. The complex will consist of 18 stylish super luxury 3-bedroom apartments ranging from 1500 sq ft to 1800 sq ft and two 3000 sq ft penthouses with an infinity swimming pool and a state-of-the-art Gymnasium on the roof top, the developers said.

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(Source: Sunday Times)

Work on Northern Expressway to start next month

The Northern Expressway, from Enderamulla in Gampaha to Dambulla would be constructed in four phases and consist of four lanes initially. Chinese and local contractors would jointly undertake the construction of the expressway projects to the North as well as Kandy and was estimated to cost around Rs. 300 billion, Minister Kotalawela said.

Addressing a press briefing today, Highways Ministry Secretary and Road Development Authority (RDA) Chairman R.W.R. Premasiri said that the first phase of the 53 kilometre long highway would go up to Ambepussa. 

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(Source: Daily Mirror)

Restrictions on land alienation to foreigners

President Mahinda Rajapaksa today instructed the Cabinet to enact the proposed bill restricting land alienation to foreigners as soon as possible, informed sources said.

The Government will present this Bill titled, ‘Land (Restrictions on Alienation)’ to Parliament and if enacted it will restrict the alienation of lands in Sri Lanka to foreigners, foreign companies and institutions with foreign shareholding.

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(Source: Daily Mirror)

New Land Bill: Is it a ‘no – investment’ in Sri Lanka

The Land (Restrictions on Alienation) Bill which was recently placed before parliament for debate appears to have gone beyond its initial mandate and intentions.

It will be recalled that President Mahinda Rajapaksa, proposed, during his Budget Speech in November 2011, that “foreigners” will not be allowed to purchase state land on a freehold basis. This was administratively widened, subsequently, to include both, state and privately owned land. It is the general view that the widening was aimed, primarily, at creating an “affordable” playing field to Sri Lankan nationals wishing to purchase residential property.

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(Source: Sunday Times)