Western Region Megapolis Light Rail Transit

The Western Region Megapolis Light Rail Transit System (Sinhala: කොළඹ සැහැල්ලු දුම්රිය සංක්‍රමණ පද්ධතිය. Tamil: கொழும்பு இலகு ரக இருப்புப்பாதை கட்டமைப்பு) (previously referred to as the Colombo Light Rail ) is a proposed metropolitan light rail system which was under construction serving the designated Western Region Megapolis area within the Colombo District, Sri Lanka.[1] The system was planned to be operated as a public-private partnership between the Government of Sri Lanka and selected private entities.[2] The project estimated to be worth USD 1.5 billion was commenced during the Presidency of Maithripala Sirisena in 2017 and was regarded as the largest single foreign-funded infrastructure project in Sri Lanka. However, the project was changed in September 2020 due to the change in administration in Sri Lanka, as newly elected president Gotabaya Rajapaksa termed the Blue line (malabe-pettah) deal as not a cost effective solution.[3][4][5] But, later It was announced that the first line of project was not canceled and the other lines are to go through as PPP projects as planned before. Prime minister Rajapaksha has requested to link Maharagama town with the system. All the lines will also changing the proposed track lines.[6][7]

In June 2021, it was reported that a Japanese firm which was involved with the project claimed damages and compensation amounting to 5.8 billion as a result of scrapping the project.[8]