Chinese constructors short listed to build H’tota Port

Hiran H.Senewiratne

Consortium of China Harbour and China Hydro, a leading Chinese company will undertake the construction of the Hambantota Port Project. This deal was finalised recently, the Ports Authority sources said.

Construction of the Port in Hambantota was initiated few years ago and number of studies had been carried out to assess the viability of the Port. Initially SNC Lavalin International of Canada undertook a preliminary study in 2003. In the year 2005, Ramboll of Denmark has completed the preparation of the Master Plan for Hambantota Port project.

According to Ports Authority sources, it is planned to commence activities on a service and an industrial port initially and subsequently to develop as a Transshipment Port depending on the increase in cargo volumes.

Further Hambantota is one of the poorest regions in Sri Lanka and as such the construction of a Port will be an important catalyst for a major economic development in the Southern region, the sources said.

The importance of construction of the Hambantota is within 10 nautical miles of the world’s busiest shipping lane had been identified by several Oceanologists since it is ideally located directly at the intersection of major international sea trading routes.

Over 100 ships bypass Sri Lanka daily between Europe and the Far East and large quantities of fuel supplies for them are necessary and also they need servicing facilities.

An oil refinery and a power generation plant too would be constructed by the Chinese investors.

The natural depth along the coastline is ideally suited for the development of a deep-water-port. The approach to the port does not necessitate a long dredged channel. The strategically situated maritime gateway to India is also an advantage to develop the trade between two countries, the sources said.