Hambantota Port project to commence next week

Shirajiv Sirimane

NEW PORT: The construction of the Hambantota Port, one of the biggest development projects to be undertaken by the Government, would commence next week with President Mahinda Rajapaksa laying the foundation stone.

A Chinese consortium comprising China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd and Sino Hydro Corporation Ltd would be in charge of constructing of the Hambantota harbour.

Under the first phase of the project, an industrial port with a 1,000m jetty and an oil refinery estimated to cost US$1 billion will be constructed at Hambantota.

The proposed port will stimulate development of harbour-related industries such as ship repairs, ship building, bunkering, break bulk, power generation and a free trade zone.

The entire cost of the Hambantota Port Development and related development would cost US $ 450 million. There was an additional agreement to fund the new oil refinery costing US $ 1 billion.

CEO Hambantota District Chamber (HDCC) Azmi Thassim said the development of the new port would help in the economic uplift of the Matara, Ratnapura and Moneragala districts and part of the Eastern Province.

The construction of the new port when completed will directly provide 6000 new jobs and 50,000 to 100,000 jobs as indirect employment.

A large number of these openings were for skilled workers who were lacking in this area. Therefore, steps were being taken to train people in the required skills at special vocational training centres and the GTZ and the Chamber are playing a major role in this regard.

In addition a Korean government assisted international convention centre would be built.