Category Archives: News

MAGA undertakes design and construction of two key flyovers in Colombo 02

  • PR – MAGA undertakes design and construction of two key flyovers in Colombo

Maga Engineering has begun construction of two new flyovers in Slave Island (Colombo 02), along Justice Akbar Mawatha and Uttarananda Mawatha. The proposed flyovers will overarch two central intersections in Slave Island and the Coastal Line – one of the busiest railway tracks leading into the city, thereby easing heavy traffic congestion leading to Colombo’s Central Business District (CBD).

Colombo 02 is at the heart of the city’s real estate drive, with several new developments coming up alongside existing public and private commercial spaces, including the Cinnamon Life Integrated Resort. Due to over 100 gate closures per day, the Coastal Line running across Justice Akbar Mawatha and Uttarananda Mawatha results in daily travel time losses of more than 6 hours. With road traffic disruptions expected to worsen with upcoming developments to the Coastal Line from the Colombo Suburban Railway Development Project, the new flyovers will alleviate severe traffic congestion and provide a timely improvement to traffic flow in the long-term.

The project is implemented by the Road Development Authority (RDA) as part of an integrated traffic management solution for the Slave Island area. Maga Engineering has been contracted to design and construct two flyovers valued at LKR 5.2 billion. The two-lane bidirectional flyover along Uttarananda Mawatha will be 558m in length and the two-lane unidirectional flyover along Justice Akbar Mawatha will be 300m, whilst the connecting branch flyover will be 288m in length. The superstructure will be made of concrete box-girders, whilst the substructure will comprise concrete piers and pile foundations. The project will also involve improvements to junctions, bridges, byroads, culverts, drainage and other retaining structures. The project team will work alongside the Beira-lake watercourse in the heart of the city, whilst minimizing disruption to traffic and navigating a congested layout of existing utility lines.

Commenting on the project, Chief Executive Director of MAGA Mr. Piyadasa Madarasinghe stated “The project is scheduled for completion by mid-2022, requiring its delivery in record time. In order to achieve this target, we are leveraging our in-depth construction experience in constructing major bridges and flyovers, involving innovative construction methodologies and intricate coordination. The road network in this area connects the rest of Colombo with its economic hub (Fort and Pettah) and its coastal region (Galle Face and Colombo Port City), therefore the project will bring great dividends once completed. We are proud to partner with the Ministry of Highways and RDA and contribute to the vision for a modern and accessible Colombo city.”

Maga Engineering is Sri Lanka’s largest construction company and a key partner in national infrastructure development. MAGA has been involved in delivering a number of bridges and flyovers, including the Japan Friendship Bridge (formerly known as the Victoria Bridge), Kalladi Bridge, Ginganga Bridge on the Southern Expressway, Hambantota Siribopura Flyover, and the Baseline Road Flyover.

MAGA to construct a new Railway Operation HQ & Train Control Centre at Maradana

  • PR – MAGA to construct Railway Operation HQ & Train Control Centre at Maradana

Sri Lanka’s railway system transports essential goods and freight, serves thousands of daily commuters, and forms an island-wide transport network that benefits millions of Sri Lankans. Colombo Fort and Maradana are at the heart of the country’s suburban railway network and service the majority of rail transport within the Colombo Metropolitan Region (CMR). This network also covers the four major corridors leading into the capital – the Main Line, Coastal Line, Kelani-Valley Line, and Puttalam Line, with a track length of around 230km that accommodates over 100,000 passengers per day.

Maga Engineering has been awarded the contract for the design and construction of a new Railway Operation Headquarters (OHQ) and Train Control Centre (TCC) at Maradana. The project is a component of the Colombo Suburban Railway Efficiency Improvement Project (CSREIP) implemented by the Ministry of Transport and funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Expected to be completed by July 2023, the new complex is part of a project that will make significant improvements to efficiency of the existing railway operations, while addressing key bottlenecks in the network and improving sustainability of operations.

Valued at LKR 3 billion, MAGA’s scope of work includes design and construction of the new complex, which will feature 13 floors and cover a total floor area of 212,856 square feet. The building will provide essential modern office space, auditorium and meeting facilities, common areas, accommodation and recreational facilities and parking for over 100 Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) staff. The building will also house a high-tech Train Control Centre (TCC) that manages train movements and signaling, while ensuring safe and timely operations of trains. The TCC will be equipped with all the modern Information Technology (IT) facilities and features necessary to monitor and manage a modern rail network.

The new complex will come up at the SLR premises located alongside a bend of the railway track running to the Maradana station. The design draws inspiration from the surroundings and the railway network itself, blending locomotive history with modern technology to come up with a structure that is instantly notable and historically distinct. Designed by OENS Design Studio and MAGA’s design team who have a wealth of green building experience, the new complex will feature a number of sustainability features that offset its energy footprint, and bring a modern, smart, and iconic new addition to Colombo’s skyline.

Commenting on the launch of the project, Project Director of MAGA Mr A. Thiruvalluvar noted; “despite challenges due to the pandemic, we have mobilised an expert project team who have extensive experience in the design and delivery of large-scale public infrastructure project such as this. With the support of our client and project consultants, we are well positioned to complete this project on schedule and deliver yet another national landmark that will prove a much-needed upgrade to Sri Lanka’s urban railway network and public transport system.”

Maga Engineering is Sri Lanka’s largest construction company and a key partner in developing the nation’s infrastructure. Over the last three and a half decades, MAGA has delivered lasting social infrastructure in education, healthcare, transport, leisure and commercial sectors, spanning a built-up area of over 21 million square feet, a road network of 4000km and water schemes providing drinking water to 3.5 million residents.

MAGA commences Sethsiripaya Stage III – Sri Lanka’s largest office complex

  • Sethsiripaya Stage III – Sri Lanka’s largest office complex

Sethsiripaya Stage III, the third phase of the Government’s administration hub in Battaramulla, is a 25-storeyed modern office building with floor area of over 1.3 million square feet—making it the largest public sector building and the largest office complex in the country. The new complex will bring ministries, public corporations, departments, and government offices that were scattered around the city to a centralised location; a move that will reduce traffic congestion in the city, streamline access to services for the public, and provide much-needed office space for government and semi-government institutions.

The proposed complex occupies a site area of 4.3 acres adjacent to the Sethsiripaya Stage I and II buildings and will comprise modern office space, multifunction halls, meeting and conference facilities, commercial areas, restaurants, and parking for 700 vehicles. Once completed, Sethsiripaya Stage III is expected to cater to over 7500 occupants and 1000 visitors per day.

Valued at LKR 16.7 billion, the project is fully owned and funded by the Urban Development Authority (UDA), as part of the Sri Lanka Government’s vision for people-centric development and an accessible and effective public service. Role of the architectural consultant is carried out by the Design, Project Management & Consultancy Division of the UDA, while Maga Engineering is the engineering design-and-build contractor. At the commencement of the project, the Chairman & Managing Director of MAGA Mr M.G. Kularatne stated, “We are proud to become the construction partner of the largest government complex in Sri Lanka, which once completed will be a milestone in the masterplan of the UDA. It is a worthy addition to our track record of delivering landmark public sector buildings, such as the Customs Headquarters and Extension to the Treasury Building.”

Envisioned by the architectural team at the UDA lead by Archt. Ananda Samarasinghe, the building consists of a solid base that holds two main wings around a giant sky-lit central atrium that maximises ventilation and daylighting, while creating a large common area for both the occupants and the general public visiting the building. Following universal design principles, the complex will contain an array of energy efficient sustainability features including rooftop solar energy generation and rainwater harvesting, together with green-rated building materials. Once complete, Sethsiripaya Stage III is expected to achieve a Platinum green-building rating, setting a benchmark for public sector buildings and high-rise office space in Sri Lanka.

Maga Engineering has been at the forefront of delivering Sri Lanka’s most iconic commercial and office-spaces for government agencies and leading corporates, including Sri Lanka Customs, Ministry of Finance, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Hemas Holdings, People’s Leasing PLC, HSBC, DIMO, Jetwing Hotels, South Asia Gateway Terminals, and Millennium IT.

Maga completes Galadegara-Mawathagama Water Supply Project

  • PR – Maga completes Galadegara-Mawathagama Water Supply Project

Maga Engineering announced the successful completion of the Galagedara-Mawathagama Water Supply Project. Valued at 3.1 Billion, the project was completed in mid-2020, after the completion of variations and extra works which augmented the distribution scheme by another 30km of pipelines.

The Galagedera-Mawathagama Water Supply Project is a large-scale rural water-supply scheme implemented by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB). The project aimed to provide pipe-borne water to 25,000 people in the eastern part of the Kurunegala District such as Mawathagama and Kurunegala Pradeshiya Sabha, and Galagedara, Thumpone, Paragahadeniya, and Mawathagama towns in the Kandy District. Maga Engineering executed the construction of a 1000m³ capacity elevated tower; a 450m³ capacity ground reservoir and associated electro-mechanical works; and supply and laying of 250mm diameter DI & HDPE transmission line for 27km; along with a 145 km long distribution system.

The project’s extensive distribution scheme covered the fast-growing town, suburban and rural areas of these two important districts of Sri Lanka, and will act as a catalyst for the region’s rapid economic development centered around agriculture. The project was financed by the DFCC bank under government’s local bank funded water supply projects, aiming to provide 100% coverage of potable water to Sri Lanka by the year 2025.