Hambantota Port project:

SLPA saves Rs 2 billion

Hambantota will be the tallest venture for the future global maritime trade, SLPA Chairman Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama said.

"Although there was much talk for the last 10 -15 years, of a port in Hambantota. It was made a reality under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the guidance of Port, Aviation, Irrigation and Water Management Minister Chamal Rajapaksa," Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Chairman Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama said. He was speaking at a presentation organized by the Asian Shippers' Council in Colombo.

He said that the SLPA was proud that the Hambantota Port Development Project was a unique design done by local experts from SLPA, University of Moratuwa and Lanka Hydraulic Institute. He said that this made the difference compared to other projects, as it was our exclusive concept and a locally developed design.

Steps were taken initially to acquire the total land requirement for the Project that was nearly 1700Ha of which SLPA has already acquired 1100Ha.

The initial step of the development of the port was taken by the then Prime Minister and President Rajapaksa who took a decision to undertake the project under the SLPA without selling it to any other party.

As the SLPA was involved in design and construction supervision of the project it made a saving of over Rs 2 billion while the experience gained by the local industries during the project is priceless.