Siemens strengthens partnership with Sri Lanka; signs Memorandum of Un-derstanding with the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development

• The Megapolis of Ministry and Western Development and Siemens will engage in discussionsto study and enable conceptualization of state-of-the-art smart city interventions for a robust concept plan for Western Megapolis

Siemens, a renowned global leader in the area of Smart Cities, strengthened its partnership with Sri Lanka by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ministry of Megapolis and Western Developmentto offer expertise and best practices fromits globally-proven, state-of-the-art, Sustainable, Smart City solutions portfolio.

The MoU was signed by Mr. Lakshman Jayasekara, Project Director / Team Leader, Western Region Megapolis Planning Project and Mr. Anirudh Tandon, Country Manager, Siemens Limited Sri Lanka, in the presence of Mr. Nayana Mawilmada, Head of Investments, Western Region Megapolis Planning Project, Sri Lanka; Mr. M.M. Anura Prasanna, Deputy Director, Urban Development Authority, Sri Lanka; Mr. Sunil Mathur, Managing Director and CEO, Siemens Limited India and Mr. Ranjith Pandithage, Chairman and Managing Director, Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC.

The prime objective of the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Developmentis to bring systematic changes and development processes into the urban community in Sri Lanka, which will ensure that the inhabitants of urban areas become a part of socio-economic development of the country while maintaining high levels in quality of life.This will pave the way for making Sri Lanka a commercial,naval and aviation hub of Asia.

In this context the ministry envisages transforming the entire Western Province into a Megapolis area to usher in comprehensive development within the next five years. The scope of work under the Ministry’s purview would primarily include macro level planning of the Western Megapolis region based on bio-geo-physical and socio-economic aspects.

Western Region Megapolis Development will be the epicenter towards a long-standing, firmly-established and sustainable future urban process of Sri Lanka.Further to design smart urban settlements in strategic locations of the country it will also seek to discover solutions to resolve distinctive issues related to urbanization such as garbage, slums, energy, traffic, environment and livelihoods.

Mr. Lakshman Jayasekara, Project Director / Team Leader, Western Region Megapolis Planning Project, said, “We are extremely happy to partner with Siemens whose expertise and technologies will contribute to the Western Province’s intensive efforts to eliminate congestion pressures on urban infrastructure, services and environment with a focus on reducing the per unit capital cost of infrastructure.”

Mr. Sunil Mathur, Managing Director and CEO, Siemens Limited India, said, “Siemens is delighted to partner with the Government of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development in its endeavour to achieve the status of a ‘high income developed nation’. With its Global expertise, Siemens has the portfolio, the know-how, and the expertise to help cities become more liveable, more competitive and more sustainable. This will enable the national economy to leverage the benefits of economies of agglomeration brought about by urbanization.”

Mr. Ranjith Pandithage, Chairman and Managing Director, Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC, said, “We are delighted that our long-standing partner Siemens has entered into a MoU with Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development,for technological interventions. We at DIMO will ensure our fullest cooperation and are confident that this MoU will fulfill the aspirations of the Government of Sri Lanka.”

The Ministry plans to develop new cities in Bandaragama, Kadawatha, Kottawa and Kerawalapitiya surrounding the outer circular that will be soon under construction as a part of the Megapolis development plan. Western Region Megapolis Development will be the epicenter towards a long standing, firmly established and sustainable future urban process of Sri Lanka.

Siemens has involved itself in the future of Sri Lanka by focusing strongly on the region-specific needs of the industry with specific systems and solutions. It has implemented numerous pioneering projects in Sri Lanka together with key stakeholders such as the government, local industry and business partners in order to deliver the benefits of the latest technologies to the citizens.

Globally, Siemens is a leader in providing technology solutions for setting up intelligent (smart), sustainable cities. With solutions for Smart Grid, Building Technologies, Mobility and Power Distribution, Siemens has successfully set up smart cities in Vienna and New York, and is already involved in the Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Program (R-APDRP) of the Government of India for installing Smart Grid solutions in multiple cities in India. It has also been a preferred technology solution provider for the Indian Railways for close to six decades. Over the years, it has further built capabilities in the areas of Metros, Integrated Mobility Platforms, Airport Links, Passenger Coaches, Rail Services and Maintenance, Urban Traffic Control, Rail Signaling and other state-of-the-art Transportation Solutions.