Sustainability Strategy

Driving sustainability through strategic initiatives

Sustainability is a key focus of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission (CPCEC) in the Port City Colombo project. Eco-friendly principles govern the city’s master plan and systems, enabling PCC to become a green city.

A key initiative is PCC's Eco-Cycle model for waste management, recycling, and energy renewal, which promotes energy efficiency, effective resource management, and waste prevention. Another significant initiative is the establishment of Development Control Regulations (DCR) by the CPCEC. These rules oversee infrastructure development and maintain urban spaces, ensuring the comfort and well-being of the entire community.

24.5 ha

Parks and Green Spaces

9.8 ha

Waterfront Promenade

2.6 ha

Recreational Sports Facilities

3.3 ha

Beach

101 ha

Swimming Lagoon

Sustainability Strategy

Port City Colombo addresses major sustainability issues through its physical and functional structure in combination with integrated systems solutions. The overarching goal is to create a mixed-use livable and accessible city that reduces the urban heat island effect and becomes resource efficient with minimized energy demand.

This is done by defining strategies & sustainable guiding principles for:

Urban Pattern

The layout of orientation, continuation, shape and dimension, taking local climate conditions into consideration and promoting resource-efficient, convenient micro-climate and attractive urban spaces.

Sustainable Urban Design Principles

Promoting an open city with continuous green-blue and open spaces, accessible and attractive for all.

Land-use, Traffic & Transport

Promoting accessibility through walking, bicycling and an efficient public transportation system minimizing car dependency.

Honors and Awards

The Landscape Master Plan of Port City Colombo wins the Honorable Mention of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) Africa, Asia Pacific & Middle East (AAPME) Awards

Port City Colombo Landscape Master Plan wins the Silver Award of Singapore Landscape Architecture Awards 2017 organized by the Singapore Institute of Landscape Architects

Port City Colombo Project Landscape Master Plan wins the Gold Award of the 2018 Yuan Ye Urban Design Awards

Master Transport Strategy Overview

The Colombo Port City masterplan has been designed to prioritise non-motorised models of transport such as walking and cycling. By inverting the traditional city transport model, large improvements will be seen in air quality and the reduction of the heat island effect contributing to the mission of a liveable city.

This is done by defining strategies & sustainable guiding principles for:

Fine grained network to minimise travel distances

Narrow roads for easy & safe crossing

A shaded and car lite environment

High density mix of uses to minimise

Grid orientation to maximise airflow

Blue and Green Strategy

Green Hierarchy

Parks and open spaces play a vital role in the development of Colombo Port City, enabling a high quality of life and promoting a clean and green identity.

The following hierarchy will be delivered at the city level and is intended to meet and exceed the Urban Development Authorities' Public Open Recreation Space (PORS) standard while responding to international best practices for liveable cities.

Blue Engagement

As a key maritime location the design of Colombo Port City, offers activities and experiences that have a close relationship with water. A waterfront promenade connects the historic city with a modern outlook, providing continuous pedestrian access from which to experience everything from the bustling Colombo Business District and the Marina to the tranquil and neighbourly beach within Island Living.

A network of pedestrian & park connectors Toggle

Facilitating public access across the city through a series of lush, shaded walking paths. Highlights include:

  • Pedestrian Mall
  • Boulevard Green
  • Green Buffer
Primary System Toggle

The largest green bodies within Colombo Port City

  • Theme Park
  • Central Park
  • Linear Park
  • Primary Green Connection
Secondary System Toggle

Medium-sized areas including a community park, secondary green connector & waterfront promenade

  • Community Park
  • Secondary Green Connectors
  • Waterfront Promenade
Local Open Space System Toggle

Smaller pockets and connectors including estate parks (serving development parcels), shared streets & channel buffers.

  • Estate Parks
  • Shared Streets
  • Channel Buffer
Water Edge Strategy Toggle
  • Water Experiences
  • Water Boat Pier & Taxi Stations
Open Spaces Toggle
  • The Channel
  • The Marina
  • The Beach

SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)

Creating a sustainable city and Specialized Economic Zone in line with the Sustainable City and Community development goal is inherently, linked to the other SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). The overall plan and implementation of components of the Colombo Port City Project will create space for the organic development of an urban space, calculated to achieve the below SDG goals – the impact of which will be felt across Sri Lanka.