China Communications Construction Company Pvt Ltd (CCCC) has been quoted by the media as saying it has received written approval from the government in a letter dated 20 March 2015 by the Secretary to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation to commence protective work on the Project.

All construction work on the Colombo Port City project was temporarily halted following the government's official communication on 6th of March 2015 to temporarily suspend ongoing work of the project, with immediate effect.