PORT CITY COLOMBO AND UNIVERSITY OF MORATUWA CONCLUDE SMART CITY IDEATHON 2025, EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION OF URBAN INNOVATORS

In a landmark collaboration for Sri Lanka’s urban development sector, Port City Colombo and the University of Moratuwa’s Department of Town and Country Planning have successfully concluded the “Smart City Ideathon: Innovate, Plan, and Transform Urban Futures of Port City Colombo”.

The first-of-its-kind, three-phase programme brought together young planners, academia, industry experts, and policymakers to generate bold, forward-thinking solutions for the nation’s rapidly evolving urban landscape.

Aligned with World Town Planning Day 2025 under the global theme “With Planning, We Can,” the final phase took place at the Port City Colombo Sales Gallery, marking the culmination of months of shared learning, collaboration, and practical innovation. The Smart City Ideathon’s own focus, “With Planning, We Can: Shaping Smarter and More Prosperous Cities,” set the stage for an in-depth dialogue on how strategic planning, technology, and entrepreneurship can shape Sri Lanka’s future cities.

“The Smart City Ideathon underscored the strength of Sri Lanka’s emerging planning talent and highlighted the practical value of their contributions to real development opportunities and challenges,” said Mr. Xiong Hongfeng, Managing Director, CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd. “The ideas presented by these young planners showed a level of clarity and intent that reflects Sri Lanka’s capacity to shape its next chapter of city-making. For Port City Colombo, this kind of engagement sharpens the long-term vision we are building — a development guided not only by world-class infrastructure, but by a generation rethinking how cities can progress. The Smart City Ideathon matters because lasting developments are anchored in strong ideas, and this programme demonstrated how effectively those ideas emerge when young talent is given the space to lead.”

The final stage of the programme saw students present their refined projects, addressing key dimensions of future city development such as mobility, liveability, and urban functionality. The session also featured an address by guest speaker Mr. Heminda Jayaweera, Executive Director of Trace City, on “With Innovation and Entrepreneurship, We Can Shape Smarter and More Prosperous Cities.” Representing CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd., Mr. Tian Zheng, General Manager, Investment Promotion and Marketing, engaged with students and participants, offering insights informed by the project’s ongoing development trajectory.

The event also included a high-level panel discussion titled “Planning Smart Cities Towards a Prosperous Nation – Insights from the Smart City Ideathon”, which brought together academics and industry experts, including Prof. Jagath Munasinghe, Faculty of Architecture, Department of Town and Country Planning, University of Moratuwa; Plnr. Lalith Wijerathne, Deputy Director General, Planning and Development (Zone II), Urban Development Authority; Plnr. Anuja Mendis, Director (Planning), Colombo Municipal Council; Plnr. Jeyatharani Senthooran, Manager, Urban Planning, CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd, and Plnr. N.A.S.N. Nissanka, President, Institute of Town Planners Sri Lanka.

The discussion extended beyond Port City Colombo, addressing the critical challenges shaping Colombo’s and Sri Lanka’s urban future amid the rapidly increasing demand for urbanisation. The panel emphasised that this surge will require policymakers to revamp existing urban development regulations and guidelines through a forward-looking, predictive approach—one that enables sustainable growth, anticipates capacity requirements, and ensures utility systems are not placed under undue strain. With a focus on inclusive planning, sustainable infrastructure, smart governance, technology integration, and world-class urban development, the panel offered actionable insights for policymakers, city planners, and developers.

Dr. Rizvi Noordeen, Head of the University’s Department of Town and Country Planning, reflected on the Smart City Ideathon’s six-month journey, highlighting how student-led ideas were nurtured and strengthened. He emphasised the importance of collaboration in developing innovative urban solutions and the department’s shift from traditional planning to urban informatics, aimed at creating greater value for society and industry through new partnerships.

Dr. Chathura Kovida De Silva, Senior Lecturer, Department of Town and Country Planning, University of Moratuwa, said: “What we witnessed through the Smart City Ideathon was a genuine exchange of ideas — not only about Port City Colombo but about the kind of nation we aspire to build. The students challenged conventional thinking and offered perspectives that connected technology, environment, and social well-being. It was a reminder that planning, at its heart, is a practice rooted in understanding how people and places can thrive together.”

Launched in May 2025, the Smart City Ideathon marked the start of a pioneering collaboration between Port City Colombo and the University of Moratuwa. Designed for undergraduates of the BSc (Hons) in Urban Informatics and Planning, the initiative gave the students a platform to explore innovative, sustainable, and human-centric solutions for future urban development. The second phase, held at the University of Moratuwa, saw student teams present their initial concept proposals — each reflecting original thinking and future-focused approaches to building greener, more resilient, and better-connected cities.

Building on this success, the Department of Town and Country Planning and Port City Colombo are exploring potential opportunities for sustainable, long-term collaboration, signalling the possibility of a promising new chapter in joint innovation and development.

As the Smart City Ideathon 2025 concludes, it leaves behind a blueprint for continued engagement between academia and industry — one that redefines how Sri Lanka approaches smart city development. The initiative celebrated young talent and creative thinking while sparking a broader dialogue on how cities like Colombo can advance sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready urban development.