Colombo Port City: A new Dubai or a Chinese enclave?

“An economic game changer” is how officials describe Colombo Port City, a shiny metropolis soaring out of the water along the Sri Lankan capital’s seafront.

Next to Colombo’s leafy business district, the huge expanse of sand reclaimed from the sea is being transformed into a high-tech city which will host an offshore international financial centre, residential areas and a marina – prompting comparisons with Dubai, Monaco or Hong Kong.