Oluvil Port ready by September

by Shirajiv Sirimane

The first phase of the Oluvil Port project comprising a commercial and fisheries harbour will be completed in September, according to a spokesman for the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).

He said work on the building in the commercial and fisheries harbour areas and the internal and access road are in progress. Construction work on sheet piling and the quay wall at the fisheries harbour have been completed and yard filling is in progress.

Metal totalling 912,860 tons have been transported to the Oluvil project site while 80 percent of the construction work on the ice plant at the fisheries harbour has been completed.

Sheet piling, construction of the quay wall, land development work and yard filling in the commercial harbour area is also progressing rapidly.

Land and marine dredging work on the fisheries and commercial harbours, construction of the southern and northern breakwaters and internal groyne and beach improvements in the northern side are also in progress.

The commercial harbour with shore facilities will cater to general cargo vessels that will supply the current needs of the region, including coastal passenger transport, with provision for expansion into a bigger harbour in the future.

The fisheries harbour will cater to the needs of the current and projected fishing activities and its shore-based services and industries.

Cement, fertiliser and sugar industries will be introduced to the region via the new port while the fisheries industry will also be improved. Conventional cargo operations will also be improved at the new port to facilitate a better market for several regional industries.

The Oluvil Port Project launched in 2008 will give an impetus to economic development in the Eastern region.

Stage one of the project funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (DANIDA) will be completed at a cost of Euro 46,095,369.49.

The acquisition and purchase of lands for the project have been completed while compensation has been paid to over 800 beneficiaries.

The Oluvil port that forms the southeastern link in the developing chain of coastal harbours in the country is expected to provide more convenient and cost effective access to and from the southeastern region for goods and cargo from the west coast.

The project is expected to create 1,000 direct and indirect jobs following the completion of the current stages of the project and another 10,000 employment opportunities by 2015.

The Hambantota harbour will be opened by April next year while the Colombo South Harbour expansion, Galle harbour development and the Kankesanthurai Port too would be fast tracked.