Sri Lanka's Hambantota Port project will boost the regional economy through increased trade and job creation, reports said.
The project, which includes the construction of a sea port, an airport, highways and ancillary facilities, will see the region's population swell, Sri Lanka's Daily News reported.
Phase one of the Hambantota Port project started in 2008 and is scheduled to be finished by 2010.
The first ship should enter the port in early part of 2011 and the project's bunkering terminal is expected to be operating in the first quarter of 2011.
The $360 million first phase of the bunkering terminal project will have an initial capacity for 100,000 metric tonnes (mt).
The Chinese government is funding 85% of total development cost of $76.5 million for the bunkering terminal with the remaining 15% coming from the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).
Engineers working on the Hambantota Port project expect that many of the ships that currently pass Hambantota, on their way to Singapore and Indian ports for bunkering, garbage clearing and for maintenance, will use the Sri Lankan port instead.
A dam will be built around the port to prevent suburban areas from flooding and there will be a sea wall of interlocking concrete blocks to protect the port from high seas and tidal waves.
The entire port project consists of four stages and is expected to be fully completed in 15 years following the 2007 start.
The project, which includes the construction of a sea port, an airport, highways and ancillary facilities, will see the region's population swell, Sri Lanka's Daily News reported.
Phase one of the Hambantota Port project started in 2008 and is scheduled to be finished by 2010.
The first ship should enter the port in early part of 2011 and the project's bunkering terminal is expected to be operating in the first quarter of 2011.
The $360 million first phase of the bunkering terminal project will have an initial capacity for 100,000 metric tonnes (mt).
The Chinese government is funding 85% of total development cost of $76.5 million for the bunkering terminal with the remaining 15% coming from the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).
Engineers working on the Hambantota Port project expect that many of the ships that currently pass Hambantota, on their way to Singapore and Indian ports for bunkering, garbage clearing and for maintenance, will use the Sri Lankan port instead.
A dam will be built around the port to prevent suburban areas from flooding and there will be a sea wall of interlocking concrete blocks to protect the port from high seas and tidal waves.
The entire port project consists of four stages and is expected to be fully completed in 15 years following the 2007 start.