New additions at Galle Port

To meet future demands:

Uditha KUMARASINGHE

The Government has begun to develop the Galle Port as a regional port to expand the current capacity to meet future demands with a new breakwater, harbour basin with a deeper draft and multi-purpose terminal to handle bigger vessels.

The estimated cost of the Galle Port Development Project is US$ 170 million. The Japanese Government has granted US$ 135 million to develop the Galle port as a regional port. The Port's construction work which commenced in December 2008 is scheduled to be completed by mid 2012, a Ports and Aviation Ministry spokesman told the Daily News yesterday. The development of the regional port in Galle is aimed at realising cost-effective transportation means for the Southern area in a competitive market economy.

In addition, the development of two 14m deep multi-purpose berths adjacent to and outside the existing harbour is envisaged with the conversion of the existing port to a yacht marina linking the Galle heritage city with a boardwalk for tourism development, the spokesman said.

He said the new multi-purpose terminal will help reduce the waiting time of the vessels, berth occupancy ratio and cater to large vessels. This project will also increase the cargo handling capacity up to 3.3 million metric tons per year.

"A separate area for the Yacht Marina will also be set up within the port premises so that yacht owners could bring their yachts to this Yacht Marina. By the time, the Galle Port Development Project is completed, Galle will definitely be one of the best places for tourists to visit," he said. An Archaeological Impact Assessment (AIA) study for the Galle Port was conducted in November 2007 by the Archaeological Department. The final AIA report was obtained on September 2008. An Environmental Monitoring Plan (EMP) for the Galle Development Project was prepared and forwarded to the Coast Conservation Department on April 2008 for its approval. The Ministry has also prepared a scheme for the payment of compensation to the affected fishermen due to Galle Port Development Project.