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| Sunday, 6 July 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Hambantota to get facelift by Elmo Leonard Hambantota, the hitherto overlooked, arid, yet sea-front township, is to come under a massive multi-development project. The Canadian government has just completed a study for a rural upliftment scheme which would include an international airport and harbour, oil refinery, new city building, an industrial estate, water supply scheme, railway station, a 500-house scheme with all amenities, highway network and railway system, bus station, administrative complex, shopping complex, health facilities, telecommunications and a wild life conservation scheme. Most of the construction work will be undertaken by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) and the private sector, except projects like the harbour, which may require foreign involvement, UDA's Director General, K.V. Dharamasiri said. The quantum of funds needed is yet to be revealed and the Government is likely to raise the capital through donors. Land covering 110,000 hectares, mostly State-owned, has been set aside for what would be known as the Ruhunu Pura Development Scheme. Only 206,000 people live in this land. The industrial park would take upto 3,000 acres and would involve the Board of Investment. UDA funds would be utilised wherever possible. A new bus stand and shopping complex, using UDA money, are under construction. The bus stand, utilising Rs 26,000, will be completed on July 6. Rs 30 million out of Rs 55 million of UDA funds for the shopping complex has already been used, Dharamasiri said. Land in Nirinjiwela has been identified for building the island's southern-most harbour. Hambantota lies just south of the international sea route, and mid-way between the East and West. The envisaged harbour could be developed into the most modern and efficient harbour in South Asia, bearing that 137 ships that pass this sea way per day could be lured to anchor in, a spokesman for the Ministry of Western Region Development said. Construction on the Southern Highway has commenced and part of the plan is to extend the roadway from Matara to Hambantota and beyond. The Civil Aviation Authority has identified a flat land in Thanamalwila, close to Hambantota, for the envisaged airport. The Department of Irrigation has identified water supply sources for agricultural irrigation in and around Hambantota. Recent construction work in the Hambantota town, which impedes the view of the sea, will be demolished. The new city building will accommodate the view of the sea-front, the spokesman for the Ministry said. As part of tourism development, all antiquated buildings including the Dutch-built lighthouse would be refurbished. |
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