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by Jayantha Sri Nissanka and Bharatha Malawaraarachchi

Port, Shipping and Fisheries Minister Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday directed officials to take immediate steps to accelerate work on the proposed Hambantota Port and appointed a 12-member Task Force in order to launch a rapid program to commence work.

"I instructed my officials to commence initial work immediately," Minister Rajapakse told the Daily News yesterday.

The Task Force is expected to conclude its report within a month and then commence shipping related business immediately after the submission. These businesses include oil and water provision, crew changing, technical and medical assistance and ship handling.

"These businesses can start even now before completing the main Port since the East- West sea route is within sight of Hambantota," the Minister said.

A massive Rs 90-billion development project to build the Hambantota Port was launched several years back, but on hold due to various reasons, officials said. The project is expected to provide thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities.

"The Port of Hambantota has a great potential for the future and when developed, it is likely to be the deepest Port in the world with a depth of 25 meters," Minister Rajapakse said.

Rotterdam is the world's deepest port with a depth of 23 meters while Singapore which is the deepest port in Asia has a depth of only 15.3 meters.

Already 28 tender applications have been received from local and international bidders. Eight bids have been shortlisted and Port officials are evaluating five of them, a Ports, Shipping and Fisheries Ministry official told the Daily News.

"The Hambantota Port is also very significant as it is located on the main Sea Lane between Europe and the East," the Minister added.

Nearly 100 ships pass Hambantota sea every day to call at Transhipment Ports in Singapore, Thailand and Sumatra in Indonesia. "The development of the Hambantota Port can attract much of this sea traffic to Sri Lanka and generate revenue for the country."

The Minister held a special discussion with the officials from Port Ministry, Ports Authority, Southern Development Authority and several foreign organisations. It was pointed out during the discussion, that some engineers had not even visited the site of the proposed project. "I have now given instructions to those officials to visit the site and take swift measures to accelerate the project," Minister Rajapakse said.

The Task Force is headed by Secretary of Ministry S. Amarasekara, SLPA Chairman Admiral Mohan Samarasekara, Managing Director D. Godage, Director Technical Service Prasanna Weerasinghe, Prof. S.S.L. Hettiarachchi of the Moratuwa University, Master Divers Chairman Ariyaseela Wickremenayake, former Southern Development Authority Naveen Gunaratne, Director General of the National Policy Planning Department Upali Dassanayake, Chairman Ceylon Fisheries Harbour Cooperation, Director of the Coast Conservation Department, Director General of the Urban Development Authority Luxman Jayasekara and SLPA Director T. Jayasuriya.

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