Artificial island to come up near H’tota Port
Shirajiv Sirimane in Hambantota
For the first time an artificial island would be created near the
Hambantota Port to be used for leisure activities.The historic project
would be undertaken by Sri Lankan Engineers attached to the Ports
Authority of Sri Lanka. “The feasibility studies in this regard has been
done and we are awaiting the final clearance from the government,” an
official from the SLPA said. “We are looking at creating a minimum five
acre island,” he said. The second phase of the Hambantota port project
is scheduled to commence soon with dredging on the last stretch
currently in progress.
The project is funded by the China Exim Bank and the contractor is
China Harbour Engineering Company. “Around 40,000 cubic meters has to be
dredged and the earth from this would be used to fill this proposed
island.” He said that when completed this land would be leased out to
local and international companies to start up leisure sector
ventures.The SLPA was expected to call for international tenders after
the completion of the island. In addition the SLPA is also planning to
build a similar Port city near the Colombo harbour. Meanwhile 98% of the
construction of the Southern Province's tallest building, the 14
storeyed SLPA administrative complex have been completed. This complex
will facilitate the administrative and engineering divisions of the
Hambantota Port. Overlooking the Hambantota coastline, the building is
situated inside the port premises, within 500 meters from the docks.
Designed by Tanya & Suren Wickramasinghe Architects, the building
would also offer apartments for top executives and others. “The seventh
eighth, ninth and tenth floors would be rented out for this purpose.”
Meanwhile the second investment round of the Request for Proposals(RFP)
of the Hambantota port has attracted a billion US dollars of investments
from eleven manufacturing and processing for export industries and the
Sri Lanka Ports Authority was awaiting Cabinet approval to finalize the
proposed deals.
The second investment round of the Request for Proposals (RFP) of the
Hambantota port has attracted an investment of one billion US dollars
from eleven export oriented manufacturing and processing industries and
the Sri Lanka Ports Authority was awaiting the Cabinet approval to
finalize the proposed deals.
The bunkering facilities at the Port were ready for commercial
operations. “The bunkering facilities at the Hambantota sea port, set up
at a cost of US$ 76.5 million, are ready and the tank farm has commenced
operations.” Construction of the tank farm and bunkering facilities were
started in October 2009 and completed last year.
Han Quin Engineering Construction Company of China was the contractor
for the tank farm. “This would bring additional revenue to the
Hambantota Port. |
