Gigantic infrastructure development mooted:

More projects to see light of day this year

By Shirajiv Sirimane

President at Ruhunu Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Harbour

Development in the maritime sector has been identified as one of the key players to take Sri Lanka towards being the wonder of Asia. Usually what a government in a small island-nation like Sri Lanka would do is to develop one or two existing harbours. However Sri Lanka has taken a gigantic step forward by building three international harbours and also developing three other harbours to international standards.

The Ruhunu Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Harbour in Hambantota was opened last year and its commercial operations have already started. The second stage of the project would begin in March with financing for the project already being found.

The second new harbour that would be opened next year is the Oluvil duel purpose harbour project launched under the "Neganahira Navodaya" program.

Under the Nagenahira Navodaya program, which was launched to expedite the development activities in the eastern region, higher priority was given for the Oluvil Development Project, which would undoubtedly be a catalyst of economic infrastructure development for the growth of the eastern region of Sri Lanka.

The commercial harbour is geared to accommodate 5,000 tonne ships which make industrial exports possible. In addition the fisheries harbour too would be able to use large fishing vessels increasing the catchments of each vessel.

This will be a major incentive for the fisheries sector and several companies are already planning to set up ventures related to the fisheries sector in Oluvil. Conventional cargo operations will also be improved at the new port to facilitate a better market for several regional industries.

The project costing Euro 46.1 million is funded by the Nordea Bank of Denmark.

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.

Oluvil harbour

Work on Rambakan Oya in progress

Colombo - Matara highway

Due to the building of the two ports in Hambantota and Oluvil, entrepreneurs in these areas would get the opportunity to export their products directly, eliminating the middle-man.

Due to the opening of these two harbours for the first time people in the area would be able to enjoy commodities at the same price as in Colombo due to merchant ships being able to unload cargo.

Oluvil harbour

The KKS and Trincomalee harbours along with Galle would be re-developed while the much awaited and the long overdue Colombo South Harbour development too has commenced.

In addition to the Oluvil harbour the first stage of the Colombo - Matara Expressway (up to Galle) will be completed in July 2011 and the total project would be ready by 2012 (up to Matara).

Colombo - Matara highway

Total length of the expressway would be 126 kilometres, which is 34 kms less than the existing Colombo - Matara highway.

The expressway costing Rs. 84 billion is Sri Lanka's biggest development project in history and is also the first access controlled expressway (EW) in the country.

Design speed of the project starting from Kottawa on Highlevel Road and ending at Godagama in Matara is 120 kilometers per hour.

'One of the biggest advantages of the project is that a motorist would be able to reach Matara in just one hour and twenty minutes and Galle in one hour', said Project Director, Southern Transport Development Project (STDP), S. Meihandan.

The EW is a four lane dual carriageway with eleven interchanges with toll gates and one rest area in Bentota with a 1.5m wide centre median with a cable barrier.

The access to the expressway would be from Kottawa on High Level road and from Kahathuduwa, Gelanigama, Dodangoda, Welipenna, Kurundugahahetekma, Nayapamula, Pinnaduwa, Deegoda, Weligama and Godagama on Matara-Akuressa road.

There would be 153 underpasses and 27 overpasses as well. The EW would also be linked to the Colombo - Katunayake EW and the proposed Colombo - Kandy EW.

He said the EW was originally planned to be a two lane expressway and it was converted to a four lane anticipating the future demand. 'We estimate that the Southern expressway would be sufficient to meet the demand for another 25 years. There is provision for two additional lanes for the future', he added.

Two Special ambulances and a fire brigade would be assigned for the Expressway in case of an emergency.

Commenting on the proposed toll he said that the STDP, hopes to charge a toll of Rs. 3 per kilometer from Cars, Rs. 6 from Vans, Rs. 9 from Buses and Lorries and Rs. 12 from Container Trucks. No motor bikes or three wheelers would be allowed in the EW.

Japan International Co-operation Agency, (JICA) Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government would fund the project.

The main objective of the project is to assist the development of economic activities of the Southern Province by encouraging growth in industries such as tourism, fisheries and agriculture. Commenting on new technology the project director said that application of Compact Vacuum Consolidation and heavy tamping methods to treat soft soil areas were introduced.

Norochcholai to steam Power

The Minister of Power and Energy, Champika Ranawaka has said that the entire nation would be provided with electricity by 2012 and to meet this objective several new projects have been launched and the Norochcholai, Power plant will be opened in the first quarter.

The power plant would produce 300 megawatts of power and Chief Engineer S. Panditharatne emphasized that the plant is being built according to all international environmental safety standards. He said that there are several Coal Power plants in South India which generate over 5,000 Megawatts and Sri Lanka would use the refined Coal imported from Indonesia to ensure that there are no environmental hazards. The resettlement had been very successful and the total investment for the project is around Rs. 4.6 billion. It is expected that a Power unit could be manufactured for less than Rs. 8 as against Rs. 15 from Diesel power generation. Norochcholai would be able to meet 17% of the consumer requirement of power.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa inaugurated the second phase of the Norochcholai coal power plant last March which would generate 600 megawatts. Cost for the second phase is estimated at US$ 891 million.

Several other new power generation projects too would be implemented while rural electrification covering the North East too is now moving ahead.

The construction of the Brodland Hydro Power supply project in Kitulgala area would commence this year and it would be completed by 2014 adding 35 mega watts to the national grid.

In addition a Solar Power station would be set up at Baruthankanda, Hambantota by the Ministry of Power and Energy to produce KW 737 of energy next April. This would be Sri Lanka's biggest solar power generation plant. To increase connectivity between Sri Lanka and India the much awaited and long overdue passenger ferry services between the two countries is turning out to be a reality early this year.

The two governments have decided first to restart the ferry service between Colombo and Tuticorin. Plans are also underway to develop the domestic air operations and SriLankan Airlines have already stated that they would launch the sea planes operations once again this year.

With President Rajapaksa keen on taking giant steps towards development based on five-fold sectors of progress, and declaring 2011 as Visit Sri Lanka Year, over 700,000 visitors are expected this year with many other infrastructure projects expected to take off the ground.

Already steps are being taken to build an ultra luxury hotel by Shangri-La international chain near Beire Lake.

With the rapid development programs undertaken by the Government the private sector too has intensified their investments which would take the country to an even higher elevation with economists predicting that Sri Lanka would even come close to a double digit economic growth by the end of this year.