Clean Waterways Launches Rs. 2.5B Plan to Restore Beira Lake

HSBC Sri Lanka has launched Clean Waterways, a Rs. 2.5 billion public–private initiative to restore Beira Lake in Colombo. The project, in partnership with the Beira Lake Restoration Task Force, Clean Ocean Force, and the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation, aims to tackle pollution and improve the urban ecosystem over three years.

As part of the launch, solar-powered waste-collection boats and a battery-operated surface-cleaning boat were unveiled. The initiative also includes dredging, aerators, fountains, and water treatment, with strict monitoring of pollution hotspots.

Governor Hanif Yoosuf called it a decisive step to reverse years of environmental damage, while HSBC CEO Mark Surgenor emphasized the bank’s commitment to sustainable urban development. Officials hope the integrated approach will restore the lake’s ecological health and set a model for other urban waterways in Sri Lanka.