Hambantota Port construction begins

Rasika Somarathna

COLOMBO: The construction work of the Hambantota Port project with an estimated cost of US $ 360 million, will get off the ground today Mirijjavila, expediting another mega development project in line with President’s election manifesto Mahinda Chinthana.

The Port project which comes under the National Infrastructure Development Programme Mihindu Randora, will be implemented on a soft loan grant provided by the Chinese Government. President Mahinda Rajapaksa on his recent visit to China had successfully negotiated with the Chinese President to grant 85

per cent of the total amount under a special subsidised loan scheme.

In the first Phase, the Port is to act as a technical\service providing port with latter expansion to take the port to a fully fledged port with the latest technology to meet the demands of the 21st century, with the capability of handling 20 million containers per year.

The use of local talent would be a main feature in such a gigantic development project with contributions mainly coming from local engineers and technicians.

In addition to the Port, the area would consist of an International Airport with expressways and an extension to the existing rail road network to convert the area into a fully fledged industrial zone.

A tree planting programme has been initiated in a stretch of 15 Km adjoining the port to minimise the effect on the environment. A waste management and a water purifying project too is in the pipeline to preserve nature.

The project is expected to propagate development in the area with around 5,000-6,000 direct employment opportunities created with another 50,000 indirect opportunities in the pipeline. In addition, the traditional industries in the South will get a major boost including the fishing industry.

The people who lost land due to the port project have been offered alternative land or compensation with all support. The port project is expected to facilitate development not only in the down South but in the country as a whole and is expected to lessen the strain on Colombo Port.