Among the most developed cities in Asia:

Greater Hambantota

By Shirajiv Sirimane

Unplanned city development in Sri Lanka is considered the main cause for flooding and many other problems the country is facing today.

The new administration complex

The proposed bus terminal

The banking complex

While it may be too late for some cities to be re-planned, Hambantota is identified as one of the metro regions for future planned development.

Two decades ago the saltern, sweetmeats, curd and treacle and wayside vegetable outlets were the only attractions of Hambantota and it was once considered a very poor district in Sri Lanka.

Today, due to the mammoth development taking place, people too are reaping the economic benefits resulting in better lifestyles.

Project Director Chief Consultant Hambantota Priority Projects Urban Development Authority, Archt. Ananda Samarasingha speaking at an Invest in Hambantota forum organised by the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce last week in Colombo said that the City is to be converted as one of the best planned cities in Asia. "The vision set for the region is to be a gateway to Asia, which is economically prosperous, ecologically sustainable and culturally vibrant," he said.

It was to meet this goal that the second airport and Harbour came up in Hambantota while the cricket stadium, Convention Centre and other development took place.

As a result from 2010 all sectors in the Southern Province showed positive growth, with agriculture recording a growth rate of 1.9 percent, and industry recording a 37.8 percent increase in 2012 from 3.1percent in 2010, and growing by 18 percent. The Central Bank's Prosperity Index ranked the Southern Province second in 2010, one notch above its position in 2007 for having improved from 51.5 to 60.0.

"Socio economic indicators also improved, which are close to national levels. The household income, as of 2010, stands at Rs. 32, 514 compared to the national level of Rs. 36, 451.

"The poverty headcount index is at 9.8 comparing to the national level of 8.9. With the increase in commercial activities in the region, the unemployment rate has dropped to 4.8, close to the national level of 4.0," said Central Bank Deputy Governor Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe delivering the keynote address.

In addition to mega development the investment zone has also attracted many local and foreign investors while new hotels that are being built would bring in more revenue from tourism. The extension of the Southern highway and the rail link too would draw Hambantota close to Colombo.

The Urban Development Authority has prepared various development plans to make Greater Hambantota Development Plan a success and a reality. An extent of 112,000 hectares in Hambantota has been identified by the UDA as the urban development area.

Plans have been drawn to utilise this extent of land for various development activities under Greater Hambantota Development Plan.

The projects planned for the city are the Banking Square, Bus Shelter - Sribopura, new Administrative building, Hospital, Hambantota City Centre, Botanical Garden, Beach Park and other development.

In addition a Diplomatic Enclave, Police Station, Government Quarters, High Income Housing / Chalets, Middle Income Housing, Commercial Urban Block (Commercial/Mixed Development) Post Office, Bus Stand and Market & Theatre, Urban Park, Nature Park, Linear Park, Fisheries harbour, City Square, parking and Civic Square, schools and many other development too is planned doing justice to people in the area and to improve their quality of life by generating new job opportunities that will gradually establish full employment status in the country.

The International Convention Centre

These developments have created new investment opportunities in the sea and airport related industries, export oriented manufacturing, fishing and bird watching, tourism and eco tourism construction, manufacturing and alternative energy and other areas.

"With investors responding positively soon, Hambantota district would be among most developed cities in Asia," said Azmi Thassim, Founder President of Hambantota Chamber of Commerce, one of the most active regional chambers.