I was in Sri Lanka this July and noticed a board saying that they are gonna transform the Galle Face Green into a major tourist attraction, from the piece of sand it is now...Does anyone kno whether there has been progress or is it gonna be another lost, forgotten project in beautiful Sri Lanka? :)

Pls put up some plans and maps!!!

Last time I went there, there was grass... But the thing is as soon as lets say.. grass is planted people try to walk over them, and of course they die. And the project will be underway afaik.

I think it would be a great idea if they could create a nice wide beach alongside the galle face grounds by building breakwaters etc. They've done this in dubai. Would be really nice in Colombo.

Something like this:

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/2793/beachdp3.jpg

Yah but the galle face green is a bit to small don't you think.

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/9417/beach1lr2.jpg

It can extend for quite a bit southwards....northwards uptil the roundabout.

It would be nice to have some nice cafes and pedestrian plazas on that green area.

They should develop it as a promenade with cafes, green space etc so that it will become a tourist attraction and a place where pplz would want to go even more. This development is used in many cities across the world and attracts lots of people there.

To make Galle Face Greenbetter it need to have multiple features, not justone huge green. We need greens, walkways, urban modern sculptures and waterside promenades if necessary.

Walkways are a must.. criss cross walkways acorss the Green not only encourages people to walk more but also keepsthe grass green.

For example here is the Parc Andre Citroen in Paris..

http://www.clasohm.com/photodb/img/11599-md.jpg

http://accel3.mettre-put-idata.over-blog.com/0/02/54/29/2005/2005-07/andre-citroen/images004.jpg

http://www.yvonet.com/IMG/jpg/parc-andre-citroen.jpg

Simplistic, cheep to build yet classy and elegant.

Building a beach although appealing is a very tricky process. Needs a lot of investment and I am not usre if a city centre beach is that attractive an option. I wouldrather sese the Green for cultural events/Festivals/CArnivals rahtehr than bathing/swimming.

I totally agree we need some western flair...

This is good development news, Galle Face really needs to become more attractive. The grass areas need to be redeveloped perhaps build some foot paths (like in the picutre of the place in Paris) to stop people from walking over the grass.

Yeah but you need a promenade plaza kinda thing otherwise it is just not interesting enough...

Today i saw soem large scale replanting and promenading work undertaken on the green good news...

Wasnt it the one with the fountain rendering on it ? I hope it gets build, looks so nice

Which one with the fountain?

Wasnt it the one with the fountain rendering on it ? I hope it gets build, looks so nice

This is news to me! Do you have a pic?

Anyway there is some serious construction going on at the Galle Face Green...

hope it turns out good!!! last time around too there was some pretty serious stuff done but they were neglected after some time...like those palm trees...they're all but dead!!! would hve been really nice if they wre properly grown and all!!! they should light up the place more too...and i heard they're gonna have it like an open-air theatre..setting up a stage and all!! not sure though!! lets hope for the best and keep us posted!

on open air theatre at night would be hell with all the mosquitos...

if there is gonna be one....it'll be lyk the one they had at the world drum festival....dint xperience much of a mosquite prob since its very close to the sea and all!!!

aha ok, good project then.

Victoria Golf to turf Galle Face Green
Dailynews

GALLE FACE GREEN: Victoria Turf and Landscape Management, the arm which handles all turf and landscape related projects for the Victoria Golf and Country Resort and the Rajawella Holdings has been awarded the contract to turf and irrigate the Galle Face Green in Colombo.

This contract was awarded by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

Marketing Manager of the Victoria Golf and Country Resort Lalindra Ranaweera said that 14 acres of this esplanade which is also known as the Ozone of Colombo will be planted with 'Santana' - a variety of Bermuda grass which has a high tolerance for salt and is hard wearing in daily usage.

The work has already commenced on the installation of a complete irrigation system with a 450 pop - up sprinklers for the grounds and the palm trees which line the road way.

The project has a tight deadline to meet with the completion date for planting the grass, set as the end of March 2007.

Where turfing and planting of grass is concerned, Victoria are experts on the job and this is something which they do daily and a part of their lives.

The expertise of Victoria Turf and Landscape Management is wide ranging, covering from simple garden designs, supply of advanced trees, development of sports ovals up to constructing a complete golf course.

They also have extensive grass nurseries of specially developed grasses for this climate within the Victoria Golf and Country Resort.

There we have it, a deadline for completion of atleast some of the work. March 2007

Nice, update...

Facelift for Galle Face Green

The Galle Face Green is to be further modernised, sources told the Sunday Observer. The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) is actively engaged in the modernisation of the Green. The sources said the cost of the project is estimated at Rs. 110 million.

An underground restaurant with seven stores is designed under this modernisation project, the sources said. There will be a open entertainment area with stands, for musical shows and other events. There will also be drinking water fountains.

Under the project it is planned to re-plant palmyrah trees which are already withered due to the sea breeze.

The new lighting system to be set up around the green will add a brighter look. Victoria Golf Club, Kandy is the main contractor of the green's maintenance. The sources said after modernisation it will cost Rs. 800,000 per month to maintain the Green. It will be open to the public by early 2008.

http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/02/04/new14.asp

Interesting, especially the part about the underground restaurant ??

This is a great news, that what i was waiting for, apparently more to come!

hopefully we'll know whats up wth this project on march 16th!!! this is a project ive bn looking forward to a lot...sounds rliiii nice!!!

At the moment I would predict it to be finished by End of April...

COLOMBO: In a bid to make Galle Face Green more attractive, steps are being taken to plant coconut trees.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa had instructed Plantations Industries Minister D. M. Jayaratne to plant coconut trees alongside the palmyrah trees that have already been planted. The programme would get under way in one month subsequent to discussion with other companies.

A special high yielding variety (TRI 98) would be planted at Galle Face and a unique feature of the coconut would be that it would be available in five colours - red, yellow, green, brown and orange. This tree offers a practical solution for beautifying such areas.

Jayaratne said each bunch would have between 100-200 coconuts and this high yield is unmatched.

Seeds have been already imported from Papua New Guinea and India, which would be combined with locally grown seeds to produce these hybrid coconut plants. According to the Minister this breed is more suitable for urban areas since the tree is small.

daily news (http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/08/03/news23.asp)

Good iniative, but what about the main project...

July 07:ohno:
http://i12.tinypic.com/52frakm.jpg
http://i11.tinypic.com/67dnxuq.jpg

theres more grass now!!!!

theres more grass now!!!!

Wotz that brown strip?

Its U/C..

Its U/C..

Have u seen the construction over there? I assume that's where they gonna build the recreational area?

This sounds interesting.

Is this whole thing properly planned..i.e. parking facilities etc.

i jus went past it today...not much work going on there!!!! i presume there waitin for that court ruiling!!! but it looks wayyy more greener than it used to!!!:P:P

i jus went past it today...not much work going on there!!!! i presume there waitin for that court ruiling!!! but it looks wayyy more greener than it used to!!!:P:P

perhaps they use sprinkles^^

http://i6.tinypic.com/4xw70ub.jpg

Look @ the Completion Date:ohno: :ohno: :ohno:

I guess thats the completion date in theory, never gonna happen is it...

The Galle Face Green will be open to the public from March.

Ports and Aviation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa has instructed the officials to take immediate measures to open Galle Face Green to the public soon, a Ports and Aviation Ministry release said.

Rajapaksa on Thursday inspected common amenities at Galle Face Green now under construction and instructed the authorities to look in to shortcomings of food stalls within the Galle Face Green.

The Minister instructed the officials to make the Galle Face Green more attractive and make arrangements to provide facilities to the people visiting the Galle Face Green.

DN (http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/01/22/news25.asp)

The Galle Face Green will be open to the public from March.

Is it closed right now? Since when?

Maybe I'll visit it when in SL.

taken in january 2009, galle face is GREEN again!!! only has to open to the public now!

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h78/premchand/gedsman.jpg
(Gedsman-flickr)

Haha yeah...nice...