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via The Citizen, 05 February 2022: A plan to develop the Galle harbour may adversely affect the Galle World Heritage Site.
The recently announced multi-faceted US$ 200 million plan to develop Galle harbor at the southern tip of Sri Lanka both as an enhanced commercial port and as a water sports and leisure hub hosting cruise ships, is an attractive proposition.
Indeed, the Public-Private sector project, envisaging domestic and foreign investment, promises to breathe life into a port which has been in the doldrums from the last decade of the 19 th. Century onwards, after having been Sri Lanka’s primary port for 500 years.
The details of the development plan outlined by the Minister of Ports Rohitha Abeygunawardena, are not yet available. However, from the broad contours of the plan revealed to the media, it appears that very drastic changes are envisaged – changes that could have an adverse impact on the port’s tangible heritage, warn marine and cultural archeologists.
They say that Galle harbor has to be seen as being part of the Galle “UNESCO Heritage Site” comprising Galle Fort and the old town. Any damage done to the port’s heritage could lead to UNESCO’s heritage appellation being withdrawn.
Source: UNESCO Heritage Site Threatened by Development of Galle Port
