Construction work on Rs. 3.6 b Hambantota port soon

By Anura Maitipe

Construction work on the Rs. 3.6. billion Hambantota port with financial assistance from the Chinese government will commence within two months, the project engineer, Janaka Kurukulasuriya told the media. The Chinese government has agreed to provide funds at the request of President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his recent visit to China, he said.

The construction work has been jointly undertaken by the China Harbour Engineering Company and Sino Hydro Corporation.These companies have agreed to complete work on this port in three stages, he said.

The construction of four pipelines, ten oil storage tanks, 1,000 metre long jetty and oil terminal will be completed within the first stage. The Container terminal and the dockyard will be set up under the second and third stages. This project will create over 5,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities for people in the area, he said.

There is a annual increase of transit cargo especially motor vehicles from India and Japan via Colombo to Europe and the African countries.

The space in the Colombo port is very limited now. Therefore with the completion of the new port at Hambantota it will meet the increased number of transhipments via Sri Lanka to other parts of the world, he said.

The new port at Hambantota will be near the main sea route between the east and west. Over 800 ships use this route annually.