Economic and social renaissance

Work is underway on four major Port development projects in Sri Lanka - Colombo South, Hambantota, Oluvil and Kankeisanthurai. The simultaneous construction of multiple Ports is a creditable achievement for a third world country and an unparalleled feat. There had been no port built in the country since the exit of the British and in a way this marks a historic occasion.

The construction of the Southern expresses way, the Hambantota International Airport together with the Port will see a surge of activity in the hitherto sleepy laidback South signalling an economic and social renaissance in this rural backwoods.

It is indeed remarkable that a Government of socialist orientation could chalk up such achievements given the usual reluctance by the Western world to offer financial assistance to such regimes or even if they do, impose stringent conditions. In this regard we should be ever grateful to China for coming to the aid of the Government by agreeing to fund a major portion of the Hambantota port project.

There had been grandiose plans to build Ports and Airports under various Governments since independence but these plans remained only on paper. There was a pledge to build an International Airport in Wellawaya under the UNF Government to help farmers export fresh vegetables to the West. But this too was a non starter. Even work on the Oluvil Port had come to a standstill following the demise of Minister Ashroff. The KKS port development project had also stalled due to the war.

Thus it is to the credit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa that these projects were resurrected at a time when even in the developed world, major projects have been frozen due to the global financial crisis. Perhaps the determination of the President to ensure all mega projects are not derailed due to the raging war gave momentum to this exercise.

His desire to see the Hambantota port becoming a reality also helped take things forward despite the massive financial commitment towards the war.

Addressing the final election rally in the South on Wednesday the President noted that even while engaged in conflict the Government had not neglected the development of the country but had started mega development projects of ports, roads and other infrastructure. The President no doubt realised the importance of developing and upgrading our ports at a time the country was losing much of the maritime trade.

The Colombo Port alone will not be able cope with the massive traffic in the future. Besides additional ports would also ease to a great deal the massive congestion in the city due to the heavy volume of container traffic.

The creation of four modern ports in the country could not come at a better time when the country is on the verge of taking off economically after having seen the back of a 30 year old war.

With the country now opening up to big investors who hitherto gave it a wide berth due to risk factor the importance of having multiple ports in the country cannot be overemphasized.

What cannot also be ignored is the collateral benefits that would accrue to the populace in terms of modern infrastructure, new industries, support services etc. which would all mean massive employment opportunities not just confined to Hambantota but also the entire South which had been left in the lurch in the past. Even the humblest southerner will stand to benefit, if the roaring lunch packet trade revolving round the Colombo harbour is anything to go by. Ditto for Oluvil and KKS where the ports are bound to change both their economic and social landscape.

On a macro scale the South will be turned into a major economic hub with the establishment of a major international port even shifting the emphasis from Colombo, particularly so given the volume of merchant vessels navigating the busy sea lanes off the Southern coast. The completion of the Hambantota airport can only complement the status.

The development of multiple ports is an indication of the country's economic strength and the Government will do well to live up to this status by giving the necessary impetus for the economy to take off in the post conflict era.