Dr Sarath Obeysekera

1. Develop Galle as a Boutique Luxury Marina Hub  not as mass port—focus on high-value, low-volume tourism

Key components:

• 100–150 berth full-service marina
• Yacht repair & maintenance yard (dry dock, chandlery)
• Crew facilities + luxury provisioning
• Integrated waterfront (restaurants, retail, boutique hotel
• ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove
• Phuket Yacht Haven Marina as an example 

2. Policy & Regulatory Reforms (Critical – currently missing)

Without this, the marina will fail.

• Single-window clearance (immigration, customs, port)
• 24-hour yacht clearance
• Simplified temporary import rules for vessels
• Duty-free fuel & supplies for international yachts
• Long-stay yacht visa (3–12 months)

Competing hubs like Maldives already offer smoother entry.

3. Integrate with National Trade & Logistics Strategy

This is where your earlier objectives come in:

• Digital customs platform → extend to marine arrivals
• Trade finance → support marine services SMEs
• Logistics hub ambition → include marine supply chains

4. Target Market (Be very clear)

Not general tourists.

Focus on:

• Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWIs)
• Superyacht segment (20m–80m vessels)
• Charter yacht operators
• Indian Ocean cruise yachts

5. Economic Impact (Realistic View)

High-end marina strategy delivers , High per-capita spending (USD 500–2000/day per yacht visitor)

Foreign exchange earnings

Niche employment (marine engineers, hospitality)

Linkages to:

• aviation (private jets) currently docked in Male due to the ongoing war 
• luxury tourism
• ship /yacht repair

Key Risks 

• Bureaucratic delays and none decision  making bureaucrats → biggest threat
• Environmental sensitivity (coral, coastal impact)
• Security concerns (must maintain naval coordination)
• Competition from Maldives, Phuket, Dubai

Development of Galle as a World-Class Marina and Marine Tourism Hub”

Sri Lanka will develop Galle Harbour into a boutique, high-value marina targeting the global yachting community, integrated with national trade facilitation reforms, digital clearance systems, and investment incentives. This initiative will position Sri Lanka within the Indian Ocean luxury cruising circuit and attract high-spending visitors, while catalysing growth in marine services, hospitality, and related sectors.

Regards

Dr Sarath Obeysekera