The newly constructed Hambanthota Port in southern Sri Lanka will anchor its first vessel in the second week of November with the opening of the Port, Speaker of the House Chamal Rajapaksa said yesterday. The construction work of the first phase of the USD 1.5 billion Hambanthota Harbour project is nearing completion and harbor operations will ceremoniously commence in November. President Mahinda Rajapaksa will initiate filling the inland-built harbor on August 15th.
Addressing a special media conference held at the harbour premises Sunday, the former Ports and Aviation Minister said the Hambantota Port had been only a proposal for many decades and it has been realized under the present administration.
Development of a sea port at Hambantota is one of the priority projects in Southern Region under the 'Mahinda Randora' Infrastructure Development Project.
The Speaker noted that the Hambantota Port will become the shipping hub of the South Asian region as well as the financial nerve centre of the country.
A surrounding area of 2,000 hectares will be developed as an investment and industrial zone and in parallel the roads network in Hambantota area will also be upgraded, the Speaker said.
The first phase of the Port project will provide bunkering, ship repair, ship building, and crew changes facilities.
Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama has told Reuters that while the Port will handle the oil bunkering, other services including the bulk cargo handling, storage facility, warehouses, transshipment are open for foreign investments.
Hambanthota Harbour, constructed inland close to a major shipping route six to ten nautical miles south of Hambantota is Sri Lanka's second largest harbor. The port is to be operated by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.
Addressing a special media conference held at the harbour premises Sunday, the former Ports and Aviation Minister said the Hambantota Port had been only a proposal for many decades and it has been realized under the present administration.
Development of a sea port at Hambantota is one of the priority projects in Southern Region under the 'Mahinda Randora' Infrastructure Development Project.
The Speaker noted that the Hambantota Port will become the shipping hub of the South Asian region as well as the financial nerve centre of the country.
A surrounding area of 2,000 hectares will be developed as an investment and industrial zone and in parallel the roads network in Hambantota area will also be upgraded, the Speaker said.
The first phase of the Port project will provide bunkering, ship repair, ship building, and crew changes facilities.
Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama has told Reuters that while the Port will handle the oil bunkering, other services including the bulk cargo handling, storage facility, warehouses, transshipment are open for foreign investments.
Hambanthota Harbour, constructed inland close to a major shipping route six to ten nautical miles south of Hambantota is Sri Lanka's second largest harbor. The port is to be operated by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.