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With a view to realization of the full potential of the development of harbour facility in Hambantota and recognition of integrating port development with regional development, a comprehensive consultancy study utilizing consultant having experience in greenfield port construction whose work has been acceptable to international lending agencies is in the final stage.

Port of Hambantota is planned as a Service and Industrial Port and subsequently it could be developed as a transshipment port depending on the increasing cargo volumes.

In view of urgency, short term plan has been prepared for a service port as phase 1 of the project in order to cater for the immediate demands in accordance with the master plan. The Main components are two nos. of berth with 500m length, and the Breakwater of about 1.8 km and the proposed port will have depth of 15m. presently negotiations are being held with Government of China for funding arrangements.

Project Staff -
Client -
Project Director - Priyath Bandu Wickrama – Chairman
Dy. Project Director - Agil Hewageegana – Deputy Chief Engineer

Engineer -
Chief Engineer - Janaka Kurukulasuriya – Ports Authority

Contractor –
China Harbour Engineering Co & Sinohydro Corporation ltd JV

Project Features –
Phase 1 of the project will cater for initial requirements as identified in Feasibility Study. The proposed port is planned to have the two breakwater arms on the seaside to ensure the safe navigation and the basin and quay walls within the lagoon called “Karagam Lewaya”, having an access channel across the Hambantota - Colombo main road. The main important feature of this project is the construction of the quay wall and basin in dry condition after constructing a cofferdam along the perimeter. The main parameters of the phase 1 are as follows:


· Design Vessel 100,000 DWT
· Approach Channel Width 210m
· Approach Channel Depth 16m
· Turning Circle 600m
· Quay Length( General cargo) 600m
· Service Quay 105 m
· Oil Quay 310 m
· Depth of Basin 16m
· Cost of the Construction Works US $ 361 million
· Date of Commencement 15th January 2008
· Project Duration 39 months

Progress of works as end of July 2009

Contractor M/s China Harbour Engineering Company & Sinohydro Corporation Joint Venture has already commenced the construction works under the supervision of Engineering team of SLPA and present Progress of the work is highly satisfactory.

The following major works have already been completed

a. Construction of Break water - 65% completed

b. Operation of Quarry Production – In Progress

c. Construction of Coffer Dam – 100% completed

d. Construction of Chinesepodes - 9000 Units

e. Basin Excavation - 15% Completed

f. Dredging of Entrance Channel - 15% Completed

g. Rock Blasting in Entrance Channel - In Progress

h. Construction of Service Quay wall – 80 % Completed

i. Construction of Cargo Quay wall - 40% Completed

j. Manufacturing of Concrete Paving Units – 150,000 units completed

k. A 2 Main road was closed at Mirijjawila junction and traffic has been diverted through newly constructed road.

Phase 1 Construction (August 2009)

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pics: Darshana Thilakawardana

Caisson Construction (March 2009)

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pics from hambantotaport.blogspot.com

Hambantota Port to start operations by end 2010


Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) is planning to start operating its upcoming Port in Hambantota by November 2010, said Ports Authority Chairman, Dr. Priyath B. Wickrema.

The construction work of the Port in the Deep South is “5 months ahead of the scheduled completion date” and will see the completion of the 1st phase construction
by 2009 October, he said.

Wickrema also said “ we have completed more than 50% key wall, 40% Excavation work, 100% of the Breakwater construction” while added that once completed the 1st phase will consist of 2 general purpose berths, one Bunkering berth and a small Craft berth which will be 120 meters long."

SLPA is planning to call Requests for proposals during next month from willing investors to invest in projects such as Cement Bagging & Grinding, Fertilizer Bagging, warehousing, Bulk Transshipment, Car Transshipment and Car assembling projects, a BOI press release issued on July 9 said.

The investors can either enter into a Joint venture with SLPA, or get involved in Build, Operate and Transfer projects or run their own operations on leased out lands that is coming under the Hambantota port.

Dr. Wickrema says Hambantota port has ample land space available running up to 2000 hectares, 5 times bigger than Colombo leaving room for continuous Expansion.

He also said they are looking to establish a Food processing company in Hambantota
to cater to the vessels arriving at the port.

The Chairman added, at the moment 10 to 12 investors from countries like China, Australia, India and Russia is speaking with them on possible investment opportunities and has handed over preliminary proposals.

According to Wickrema Hambantota will start Bunkering either during this year or early part of next year and Bunkering is going to be the main revenue stream at the new port.

First phase of the Port will cost 437 million dollars which 85% of it comes from China. The Port is built by a joint venture between China Harbor Engineering and Syno Hydro Corporation. While the Tank farm also been built by a Chinese Firm.

Hambantota port will be a free port where operators will not be “taxed”, Wickrema said along with that and the Geographical advantage upcoming port will give a good competition to ports such as Jebal Ali and Singapore.

Sri Lanka has planned a 3 phase development program for the Port, which once completed will be able to handle 20 million TEU’s. However Wickrema said the 2nd and the 3rd phase expansion will depend on the demand the new port receives.

SLPA says nearly 200 vessels pass Hambantota every day, which is situated closer to a prime international shipping route.

http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/Current_Affairs/ca200907/20090709hambantota_port_to_start_operations_by_end_2010.htm

Bunker Facility at Hambantota (June 2009)

Sri Lanka is getting a 65 million US dollars loan from China's Exim Bank to build an oil storage facility in the Southern coastal town of Hambantota, a senior government minister said.
"The objective of this project is to supply and store marine fuel, aviation fuel and LP gas and provide bunkering services for vessels passing by Sri Lanka," information minister Anura Yapa said.

A bulk storage tank farm with a capacity of 82,000 cubic meters of fuel storage and connecting pipelines would be built, Yapa said.

The facility will come up at a new port being built in Hambantota, also finance by China.

The Exim Bank of China is already financing a large proportion of a coal fired plant in Sri Lanka's Western coast, north of Sri Lanka's capital Colombo.

The Hambanthota port located at the southern tip of Sri Lanka bordering one of the busiest international shipping lanes.

Bunkering, or ship oil services are already offered from Colombo by several companies. In the Eastern port city of Trincomalee, Lanka IOC, a unit of Indian Oil Corporation sells bunkers.

Nice pic and info collection. So this phase 1, would it be impossible to find a render of it ?

man ,,....this is a nice thread,keep it up

guys little help....what is coffer dam?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffer_dam

Nice thread.

This port is a MUST for Sri Lanka (everything else being built in Hambantotta can be questioned) but not this, the port project will give our economy (from transipment revenue alone)a huge boost.

Hambantota Port project to be opened for public viewing

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda

The Authority of the multi-million dollar Hambantota Port construction work project has taken measures to open the project for public viewing. S.M. Faruk, an officer of Hambantota Port project told Daily Mirror that the port project is now being opened to the public following permission granted by Sri Lanka Port Authority. However, prior to visiting the project, the visitors have to get permission from the Chief Engineer, attached to Southern Lanka Port Authority on (011-2421849).

“The officials of the Hambantota Port Project have arranged awareness programmes to those who visit the project with the support of project engineers,” the officer added.

Those who are visiting Hambantota Port project would also be able to visit the construction work of Hambantota Administration Building complex, International conference hall and Ranminitenna Tele Cinema Village.

The Dry Zone Botanical garden in Mirijjavila brings beauty to Hambantota and it is located a few kilometres away from the Hambantota Port. It is enriched with endemic plants and flower of the dry zone.

The multi-million-dollar Hambantota port project is expected to complete its first phase by November next year enabling three ships to berth and carry out regular loading and unloading of goods. The entire project is being developed at a cost of Rs.39 billion including four phases by China (The Exim bank of China is funding this project).

The project is expected to provide transhipment facilities to 300 ships which are sailing beyond the eastern coastal area. Oil and water supplying, ship repairing, and container repairing are the main transhipment facilities, which are now being provided by India and Singapore.

The deepest place of the Colombo port is reported as 15.5 metres, but at a depth of 17 metres Hambantota Port will be the deepest port in Sri Lanka. Construction work of the breakwater and the three jetties will be completed under the first phase.

http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=60516

US$25m gas terminal for Hambantota

Shirajiv SIRIMANE in Hambantota

Laugfs Holding is to put up a gas terminal in Hambantota exploiting the facilities from the proposed Hambantota Harbour.

Ranjith Gunasekera.

Chairman Southern Development Authority, Ranjith Gunasekera said that the company has already earmarked a suitable land for the project and signage has been already put up. The company hopes to invest around US$25 million for this project.

He said that the main objective of this project is to provide gas at a subsidised rate to the customers. Laugfs hopes to connect an underground pipe from the Hambantota Harbour to the land which is located in close proximity.

He said that the company pays high demerage charges at the Colombo Port and it also takes a longer time to unload due to the congestion in the Colombo Port.

“What the company is planning to do is to unload Gas in Hambantota and then refill cylinders and give it to customers especially in the South at a lower rate,” he said.

Laugfs Holding would then use the road network to service the Eastern province too.

http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2009/09/06/fin02.asp

Hambantota - the new hub of development

The primary objective of the Hambantota Port Development Project and other infrastructure developments earmarked for the area was to make Hambantota a hub of economic development in the country, said Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Minister of Investment Promotion, at a media briefing following the signing of the agreement between the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and the Chinese Consortium for the development of the Hambantota Port, recently.

The primary objective of the Hambantota Port Development was to synchronize the different aspect of development such as shipping, trans-shipment, ship building, bunkering, the handling of large scale fuel products, increased bunkering, and catering to increased exports and imports, for which the Port of Colombo did not have space and facilities.

Minister Amunugama said the overall development at Hambantota involved the development of the new Hambantota Port, the new oil refinery, the International Convention Centre, the new International Airport at Weerawila, the extension of the Southern Railway Line and the construction of the Southern Expressway.

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The Urban Development Authority has taken a series of steps under the Visal Hambantota Development Program to expedite the construction work of the proposed Administrative Complex in Hambantota. At the completion of work, 42 State institutions will be housed in the complex, enabling the public to deal with their official requirements under one roof. The total cost is estimated to be over Rs. 3 b. Here the Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardene inspecting the work progress at the site. (Right): An artist’s impression of the complex.

http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/09/23/fea20.asp

Sri Lanka port draws fertiliser, cement, dockyard investor interest: official

Sept 23, 2009 (LBO) - The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) says foreign investors are vying to put up fertiliser and cement plants and ship yards in a new port in Hambantota on the south coast.

A request for proposals (RFP) inviting investments in the port, work on which is ahead of schedule, is expected to be out any time soon, SLPA chairman Priyath Bandu Wickrama said.

"We have many requests from foreign investors because of the land available in Hambantota and its geographical location," he told LBO in an interview.

"So we're confident we can get many investors to invest there. We’re about to release the RFP."

The new port, being built by Chinese contractors, is close to the main East-West shipping route across the Indian Ocean and has several thousand acres available for manufacturing plants.

Wickrama said they want to attract investments in fertiliser and cement manufacturing and bagging, food processing, warehousing, and vehicle transhipment.

"Six investors confirmed plans to put up fertiliser and cement plants but we can give only for four because only so much land is available," he said.

"We're also going to have a floating dock. Two parties - large operators - have confirmed."

Wickrama declined to identify the investors as talks were going on.

http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?nid=1420140577

Hambantota project 'can spearhead' developments

22nd September 2009 02:31 GMT

Hambantota port construction underway

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.

http://www.portworld.com/news/i88479/Hambantota_project_can_spearhead_developments

The Southern tip of Sri Lankan's map will look bright and light in the coming days, when ships at far sea at aircraft at high altitude wend there way to destinations.
With the construction of the Hambantota port, the southern tip of the country will also be an area that would generate additional revenue to the national economy. It will be a harbor of 2000 hectares where 20 million containers could be handle annually. The total cost will be Rs.39,080 million, which , to an extent funded by the Chinese Government

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1. Busy infrastructure development of port area……
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2. Vehicles plying for development work……

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3. Machinery at work…….
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4. Main road to the Port……
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5. Awaiting the dawn of the day…..
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6. Unmoved measures ……
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7. Massive cracked rocks …….
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8. The jetty area ……
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10. A bright horizon…………
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12. Hambantota fisheries harbour

Courtesy of www.news.lk

Sri Lanka President lays foundation to build oil tanks in the southern city of Hambanthota

Wed, Oct 7, 2009, 11:00 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Oct 07, Colombo: Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa, with the participation of Minister of Port, Aviation, Irrigation, and Water Management, Chamal Rajapaksa, ceremoniously laid the foundation today to build an oil storage complex and a new administrative office in the premises of the Hambantota Port.

The oil storage complex is to comprise 14 tanks, eight of which will be used to store oil for ships while three will be used to store LP gas. The remaining three will be used to provide oil for aircraft.

The new administrative building will comprise 15 floors with a total floor area of 100,000 sq ft.

Construction work of the Hambanthota Port at a cost of 360 million dollars is scheduled to be completed by 2011. The Exim Bank of China is to provide 85 percent of the funds.

A project to build the country's largest international conference hall similar to the BMICH in Colombo was also initiated today in Hambantota as a part of the proposed Commercial Urban Complex in the city.

The international conference hall is to be built on 27 acres of land according to the international standards to host any international event. It will comprise all the modern facilities including lodging for both local and foreign delegations.

According to government sources the main auditorium of the conference hall will have a seating capacity for 1,500. It will also comprise open air exhibition booths and 10 committee rooms with seating facilities for 250 each.

The project at a cost of 3.1 billion rupees will be completed in 2010 with Korean assistance.

http://www.colombopage.com/archive_091/Oct1254936645CH.html

7brl-7rDxNQ
bU7wo2PWKfQ

‘COUNTRY MUST BE PREPARED FOR HUGE INCOME' (http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/10/27/bus01.asp)
Hambantota Port to be main Asian shipping hub:

The Hambantota Port will be the main shipping hub in the Asian region within two to three years time and the country must be prepared now itself for this huge income at the Port, Master Divers Chairman, Ariyaseela Wickramanayake told Daily News Business.

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Proposed Hambantota Port

He said that there will be more ships entering the Hambantota Port daily compared to twelve ships entering the Colombo harbour at present.

Hambantota Port

* Hambantota main shipping hub in the region

* A large number of employment opportunities will be created

* 10,000 hectares available for Port expansion

The Singapore harbour has no land to expand any more whereas Sri Lanka has 10,000 hectares.

This is highly underutilized land and situated in close proximity to international shipping routes. All large ships will enter the Hambantota Port for repairs and to obtain oil and other services.

Therefore the country will have a lot of advantages which will create a large number of employment opportunities in various fields such as thermal power generation, oil refining and the petrochemical industry, the coal fired power plant, bunkering services, coal transshipment and distribution, ship building and repair activities bulk cargo and services general cargo, fishing activities and export of fish products and container traffic.

However, the infrastructure, transport and skilled and unskilled labour will be required and the authorities and people must prepare for this, he said. The large ships that used to go to Singapore for oil will call over at Hambantota in the future.

The Port will be developed initially to cater to the industrial and service sector and later for container traffic. Containers over 10,000 TEU which cannot enter the Colombo harbour will be airfreighted via the Hambantota airport, he said.

SOURCE: DAILY NEWS | Ramani Kangaraarachchi (http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/10/27/bus01.asp)

Sounds good, but I hope the Port of Colombo is not neglected due to this...

Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by Minister of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa to vest of 20h Hectares of state land, earmarked for the proposed Investment Promotion Zone at Hambantota.

The approval was granted to direct the Ministry of Land and Land Development to vest the identified 200 hectares of state for the establishment of the proposed Investment Promotion Zone (IPZ) at Hambantota, in the BOI as a free grant. The BOI will allocate the development land within the IPZ to the prospective investors on a 50 year lease basis.

News.lk (http://www.news.lk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12312&Itemid=51)

Sri Lanka new port to use solar, wind power

Nov 30, 2009 (LBO) - A new port being built in Hambantota in southern Sri Lanka will use renewable energy for some of its power requirements, Sri Lanka Ports Authority chairman Priyath Wickrama said.

"This is going to be green port," he said. "We're going to use solar power for all street lighting. It will be an environmentally-friendly port."

Wickrama said the SLPA was also studying the potential for using wind power for some of the port's other power needs.

Already a few wind power turbines are operating on a trial basis next to the port.

Wickrama also said construction work on Hambantota port, at the southern tip of the island, near the main East-West trade route, is ahead of schedule with the first phase expected to be over by October 2010.

That will allow the port to handle general cargo vessels as well as supply bunker fuel for vessels.

Wickrama said the port and the new Hambantota city next to it will be built in a well-planned manner to avoid the problems created by unplanned development and illegal construction in Colombo.

Provision will be made at the design stage itself for renewable energy supply and environmentally-friendly use of resources and waste disposal.

"We plan to generate electricity from waste as well," Wickrama said in a presentation on the progress of construction work and business opportunities available once the port is built at a seminar organised by the Sri Lanka Shippers' Council.

Wickrama said enough water supply was available now for the port and an adjacent airport project in Hambantota, which is in the dry zone and suffers from water shortages.

"In future, we plan to set up a desalination plant for water for port users," he said.

http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?nid=1748431749

Sri Lanka new port to use solar, wind power

Nov 30, 2009 (LBO) - A new port being built in Hambantota in southern Sri Lanka will use renewable energy for some of its power requirements, Sri Lanka Ports Authority chairman Priyath Wickrama said.

"This is going to be green port," he said. "We're going to use solar power for all street lighting. It will be an environmentally-friendly port."

Wickrama said the SLPA was also studying the potential for using wind power for some of the port's other power needs.

Already a few wind power turbines are operating on a trial basis next to the port.

Wickrama also said construction work on Hambantota port, at the southern tip of the island, near the main East-West trade route, is ahead of schedule with the first phase expected to be over by October 2010.

That will allow the port to handle general cargo vessels as well as supply bunker fuel for vessels.

Wickrama said the port and the new Hambantota city next to it will be built in a well-planned manner to avoid the problems created by unplanned development and illegal construction in Colombo.

Provision will be made at the design stage itself for renewable energy supply and environmentally-friendly use of resources and waste disposal.

"We plan to generate electricity from waste as well," Wickrama said in a presentation on the progress of construction work and business opportunities available once the port is built at a seminar organised by the Sri Lanka Shippers' Council.

Wickrama said enough water supply was available now for the port and an adjacent airport project in Hambantota, which is in the dry zone and suffers from water shortages.

"In future, we plan to set up a desalination plant for water for port users," he said.

http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?nid=1748431749

For a 3rd world country with a per capita income less than $5000 US, also considering that already 50% of our energy needs come from clean zero emimision renewable power.this is the biggest waste of money.
and solar is probably the most expensive out of the renewable option. we dont owe anything to world in terms of co2 pollution.
to generate elecrcity from solar it cost around 20Rs per killowat hour. to generate from cheap coal it cost around 2Rs per kilowat hour. :nuts:

the even more crazy thing is that our elecricty cost us 20Rs per kilowat hour right now even with goverment subsides. so in total it cost over 20Rs :nuts: which means our elecrcity could have been generated entierly from solar instead of deisel. :nuts:
i hate blaming the goverment for retarted fiscal and montary policy, because its wasting my time. screw it now, lets just see where we go.:nuts:

Video of Hambantota Port:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8442707.stm

http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2010/11/14/z_p-57-Infrastructure-02.jpg

Chinese Presidential Envoy Sang Guowei will attend the inaugurationceremony of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa next week, ChineseForeign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei said Thursday at a regular pressconference.

Sang, vice chairman of the National People’s Congress StandingCommittee, will arrive Sri Lanka on Nov. 17 as a guest of PresidentRajapaksa.

He will be attending President Rajapaksa’s swear in ceremony for thesecond term in office on Nov. 19, Xinhua reported.

Sang will also attend the launching ceremony of Hambantota Port, whichwas built by China Harbor Engineering Company.

Wed, Nov 17, 2010, 10:00 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Nov 17, Colombo: Sri Lanka Ports Authority sources say all arrangements are underway to inaugurate the newly built Hambanthota Harbor tomorrow at the auspicious time of 10:30 a.m.

The first vessel is now anchored outside the harbor to be taken into the harbor at the auspicious time, sources say.

Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrema says public are permitted to view the arrival of the first ship in to the harbor, which is considered as a significant milestone in the economic history of Sri Lanka.

Earlier reports said that the first ship to be piloted into the harbor would be an old style sea going vessel that recalls the past of the silk route.

The Harbour, built at a cost of US $ 437 million for the first phase is a joint venture between China Harbor Engineering and Syno Hydro Corporation. The Government of China provided 85 percent of financial assistance.

Today is very important day for us as Sri Lanakns and a massive development is unfolding and cant wait to see sri lanka in another 5years^^^^^^

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omg

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You gotta be Kidding me :lol:

Mahinda Rajapaksa Port ?

Mahinda Rajapaksa Bridge, Mannar
Mahinda Rajapaksa Road, Hambantoa
Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium at Diyagama
Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium at Suriyawewa, Hambantota
Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium at Galle
Mihin Airlines

Whats next ?
Mahinda Rajapaksa international Airport, Hambantota ?

-He already changed "R.Premadasa stadium" name to Khettarama
-God, i hope some next guy becomes president next time, from Opposition
and changes everything normal.

You gotta be Kidding me :lol:

Mahinda Rajapaksa Port ?



IMHO they shouldve called it Magampura Worldport. Anyway as long as it gets built im not fussed. In fact Im still amazed that they actually completed it. Imagine Sri Lanka in another 10 years if this new found progress is maintained! Looks good!

IMHO they shouldve called it Magampura Worldport. Anyway as long as it gets built im not fussed. In fact Im still amazed that they actually completed it. Imagine Sri Lanka in another 10 years if this new found progress is maintained! Looks good!

Yeah I guess as long as it gets built, but its a sad case with this guy naming everything under his ego!! If you head out to distant villages every single development projects has got his name on it even things like IT institutes, I have never seen or heard of a president naming things under his name while being in power or even while still alive, its usually the people or the political leadership who will do things like this to remember and honor the good brought to the country by any individual.
Not the opposition but someone with some decency should have the moral obligation to change all of this when coming to power.. this is absolutely mad when it comes to self glorification!!

I agree everything being named after him is ridiculous.

But may not be entirely MRs fault, there are plenty of people who think it is a bright idea in hopes of getting some kudos or as in the case of the Galle Stadium the Pavilion was meant to bulldozed down for an irregularity (blocking the view i believe) so the contractor quickly named it after Rajapakse knowing that then the Municipal Council in Galle would never touch it afterwards.

The Bino that Prez is seen to be peeping reminds of the old Russian Laser Range Finders .. or is that something else ??? :confused:

In any case, it is great to have a port up and coming - and ships berthing - I guess it may take a year to have the infrastructure completed for proper ops ..

have they done the approach infra ?

I heard still this Hambantota port is not ready to use, it got some insurance problem according to the news I got

http://www.dailynews.lk/2011/04/29/z_new351.jpg

During the official visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to China in 2007 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations between the People’s Republic of China and Sri Lanka, special negotiations were conducted with Chinese President Hu Jintao with a view to obtaining financial assistance to construct the Hambantota Harbour.
http://www.island.lk/modules/modPublication/article_title_images/3281304008835c1-1.jpg

The mega container vessel ‘Wan Hai 502’ entering Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port for pilot manoeuvring yesterday

The Chinese Government agreed to provide 85% of the estimated cost of US$ 360 million for the construction of the harbour under a special loan scheme. Subsequently, the signing of financial agreement for the Hambantota Port Development Project was held on 30 October 2007 at Temple Trees under the patronage of President Rajapaksa. Construction commenced on 15 January 2008.
The feasibility study for the construction of Magam Ruhunupura Port was carried out by SNC Lavolis, a Canadian international company, and the basic designs were prepared by the Denmark Rambol Company in 2005.
Under Stage I, the West Breakwater of 988 m, the East Breakwater of 312 m, a ships terminal of 600m, a service terminal of 105 m, an oil terminal of 610 m, a ships turning circle of 600 m were constructed with a basin draught of 17 m, and a port access canal having a width of 210 m and a draught of 17m. The deepened land area in Stage I is 43 h.a., enabling the facilitation of 100,000 DWT capacity ships.
Meanwhile, the construction of a fuel terminal at the port was commenced on 7 October 2009 by the China Huanqiu Contracting and Engineering Corporation with a cost of US$ 76 million. Under the project, 14 tank farms are being constructed with a full capacity of 80,000 m3. Among them, eight tanks will be dedicated for ships oil while three for aircraft oil and another three for LP gas.
The Administrative Building at the site commenced constructions on 7 October 2009 and the constructions are being carried out by the same China Harbour Engineering and Syno Hydro Co-operation joint venture. The building consists of 15 stories including a total a total floor area of 100,000 sq. ft. and with a height of 200 ft.
As the Port of Magam Ruhunupura was developed as an environmentally-friendly port from the initial stages, there have not been any environmental issues which many development projects may have to undergo. The Garden Port concept which many countries follow is utilised to join the complex mechanism process and the environment and it creates a conducive climate for employees.
With the completion of Stage I of the project, ‘Karadiyawara Mangalaya,’ the sea water filling ceremony of the Magam Ruhunupura Port took place on 15 August 2010 under the supervision of the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama on the instructions of Speaker and MP for Hambantota District Chamal Rajapaksa and under the guidance of the President.
Turning a new chapter in the country’s socioeconomic development, the first stage of the Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port was commissioned by the President on 18 November 2010 with the arrival of the vessel ‘Jetliner,’ followed by a sailing ship and a cargo ship the MV ‘Seruwila,’ symbolising the commencement of commercial operations in the Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port in Hambantota.
Following the commissioning, the Mahinda Rajapaksa Port in Magam Ruhunupura also received ISPS certification as per the IMO recommendation and the UN Locator Code ‘LKHBA’ has also been allocated. Despite several misleading reports published in few print media on the port’s inability to accommodate vessels, the above certifications assured the port as an eligible and a safe port for operations.
As the infrastructure and other facilities being constructed at the port for efficient operations are nearing completion rapidly, the first large container vessel called at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Port yesterday, 28 April, for the harbour pilots to familiarise themselves with manoeuvring vessels into and out of the port.
This mega container vessel ‘Wan Hai 502,’ owned by Wan Hai Lines (Pte) Ltd., of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, having a length of 260 metres and heavily laden with containers and drawing a draught of 12.0 metres, was on its voyage from Port Kelang Malaysia to Colombo when it stopped over at Magam Ruhunupura.
In the days ahead, several more vessels of different capacities and draughts belonging to reputed international shipping lines are due to arrive at the port to enable harbour pilots to familiarise themselves.
Meanwhile, the project committee appointed for the consideration of the request of the investors who are interested for the investments in Magam Ruhunupura Port premises issued 63 applications locally and internationally and 27 investors submitted their proposals for the investments.
More than 2,000 hectares of lands adjoining the harbour will be declared as a special economic and industrial zone to boost industrial and commercial activities. Out of the 27 investors who expressed interest to commence projects, six investors had bid for cement industry while two had expressed for vehicle assembling and another two for gas.
The Project Committee received proposals from three investors for warehousing, two for petro-chemicals and one each for sugar refinery, fertiliser and canning. Meanwhile, other proposals have also been brought out to commence various relevant industries of importance and all investors have been identified as reputed and leading business ventures and entrepreneurs in and out of the country.
Since the inception of container operations at the Port of Colombo, it took about 20 years to handle a capacity of two million TEUs. Hence, in 2004, the Port of Colombo handled two million TEUs of containers, which has grown to four million TEUs by 2010. The total is expected to be 10 million TEUs by 2020, when the port will generate 40% of the Government income.
Last year, the State-run JCT of SLPA also singlehandedly reached a historic record throughput of two million TEUs in 11 months. This clearly shows the length of time factor that is needed by any project or programme in order to emerge as a reliable and strong economic venture.
Accordingly, with the time being managed efficiently and correctly with the correct development strategies, Mahinda Rajapaksa Port in Magam Ruhunupura will definitely emerge as a port that not only feeds the national economy at large, but also as the most important regional port situated in the closest proximity to international shipping routes.

FT.LK (http://www.ft.lk/2011/04/29/harbour-pilots-familiarise-themselves-with-manoeuvring-vessels-at-hambantota-port/)

As far as I know by July port would start operation,, 15 story tower and oil terminal will become commissionable

Thanks for the info

Dhaka-Colombo new shipping deal in June

Bangladesh has planned to conduct most of its shipping trade through the newly built deep sea port in Sri Lanka, aimed at cutting freight cost and making shipment to Europe quicker, officials said Thursday.

Shipping minister Shajahan Khan will fly to the Indian island nation next month to sign a new shipping service deal, which could usher in a new era in the country's 40 billion dollars plus foreign trade.

Presently, some 80 per cent of the country's foreign trade is done through Singapore port. Feeder vessels carry Bangladeshi containers to the port from where the cargoes board mother vessels to be shipped to their destinations.

But Sri Lanka's newly built Hambantota port could change the scenario, as it offers fewer days for shipment and a cheaper freight --- thanks to its proximity to Chittagong port and the country's major export market, Europe.

Shipping ministry officials said feeder vessels from Chittagong port take four days to reach Colombo or Hambantota while it needs five days to reach Singapore, home to one of the world's largest seaports.

They said after inking the agreement with Sri Lanka, the government would prod local shipping agents and their principal companies to make maximum use of Sri Lankan ports including the old Colombo port.

"We have estimated that increased use of Sri Lankan ports would save local exporters and importers hundreds of millions of dollars in freight cost. It will also save them at least one day in shipment time," said an official.

Shipping minister Khan confirmed to the FE that he was heading to Sri Lanka in June to sign a new shipping deal, replacing the one signed in 1979. The deal will make Bangladeshi shipment cost-effective, he said.

The deal was supposed to be signed during Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's four-day visit to Bangladesh last month. But it was postponed at the last moment due to procedural delays.

The issue of increased use of Sri Lankan ports also featured in the meeting between president Rajapaksa and prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Shipping agents welcomed the planned deal with Sri Lanka, but they expressed guarded optimism whether the agreement could massively reorient Bangladeshi shipping trade via Hambantota and Colombo.

"It is true that Singapore port is costly and takes more time to reach. By contrast, Sri Lankan ports are cheaper and take one day less to reach," said ex-president of Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association Ahsanul Huq Chowdhury.

"But the main advantage of Singapore port is that it is very efficient. It is well connected and thousands of mother vessels are available there. That's why the shipping agents prefer the port," he added.

"If Hambantota and Colombo offer similar facilities, I am sure most Bangladeshi shipping agents would start using Lankan ports. After all, one day is a big factor as far as shipment and freight cost are concerned," he said.

Already some shipping lines have increased use of the Sri Lankan ports following the launching of the Chinese built Hambantota deep sea port on November 18, 2010.

General Manager of Maersk Bangladesh Ashish Jamal Haque said nearly 55 per cent of their cargoes now go to Sri Lankan ports and the rest to Singapore to catch main line vessels.

Mr Haque said mother vessels leaving Singapore need an additional four days to reach Europe than those which set off from Sri Lankan ports.

European nations accounted for some 60 per cent of Bangladesh's $16.2 billion export last year.

"Sri Lankan ports have one big problem: only a few mother vessels anchor there. If the number of mother vessels rises, more Bangladeshi feeder vessels will prefer Sri Lankan ports than Singapore," he said.

Maersk Line, one of the world's largest shipping companies, has nearly 33 per cent stake of Colombo port and majority stake of Tanjung Pelepas port in Malaysia. It carries up to 25 per cent sea cargoes worldwide.

Chittagong port's terminal manager Enamul Karim told the FE that some 80 to 85 per cent per cent of Bangladeshi export cargo goes to Singapore port.

Nearly 10 per cent goes to Colombo and five per cent to Tanjung Pelepas port in Malaysia, Lam Chabang Port in Thailand and Calcutta port in India.

He said of the 56 feeder vessels run by 10 feeder operators from Chittagong port, five to six go to Colombo but around 40 vessels go to Singapore. Most of the feeder vessels are being operated by the foreign companies.

In 2010 some 1.343 million TEUs (twenty feet equivalent units) export and import cargoes were handled by Chittagong port, up from 1.148 million TEUs in 2009

FX (http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=135559&date=2011-05-13)
:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:

Well we'll see as time goes by...

Eleven giant investors set to start work in H’tota

Sunday, June 12, 2011

By Srian Obeyesekere

The government’s accelerated economic drive accentuated on the prime southern city’s Hambantota Port is expected to get into full swing by July once cabinet approval is given to the eleven giant foreign investors earmarked to set up business in the 2,717 acre investment zone.

Of these investors, one of the world’s giant car manufacturers from Germany, Audi is to set up a multi billion rupee vehicle assembling plant in the Hambantota Port premises besides another vehicle assembly plant by Transmec under the government’s top priority ‘Free Zone’ concept of assembling and exporting diverse technological products, Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Captain Nihal Keppitipola told The Bottom Line.

“We have identified eleven opportune giant foreign and local investors from 27 who were short listed and presently the tender papers of these investors are before the Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee pending its final approval which we are hopeful will come this month or in July,” the SLPA Chief Engineer, Agil Hewageegama, told The Bottom Line. He affirmed that work would commence shortly after the cabinet green light is given for the eleven investors who were considered the most potential business generators from an initial number of 63 investors capable of driving forward the government’s economic thrust showcased on making Sri Lanka the ‘Wonder of Asia.’

The SLPA said that an investment under one million US dollars was expected to be pumped into the Hambantota project which is seen as a huge playmaker in Sri Lanka’s economic thrust.

Meanwhile, confirming on the vehicle assembling plant the General Manager of Senok Automobiles (Pvt) Ltd, the sole agent of the prestigious Audi vehicles in Sri Lanka

Rajieve M. Fernando said that the Audi project would go ahead as planned. Accordingly, Audi will bring over its raw materials and start work in about one month’s time, informed sources said.

“The Free Zone concept on the lines of the Jebel Ali of United Arab Emirates will see some 2,500 to 3,000 acres of the Hambantota Port premises coming under the hammer of billion rupee projects within a month’s time,” the Port Authority Managing Director said. Capt. Keppitipola stressed that the ‘Free Zone’ concept strictly envisaged that all businesses bring their raw materials for production in Sri Lanka under which the Hambantota Port would play a significant role in the country’s economic thrust.

Saying that investors from many countries had shown an interest to invest in the Hambantota Port’s ‘Free Zone’ concept, the Port Authority MD said, “The Port Authority will handle the bunkering in this respect while revenue earning avenues would include throughput charges as production in these sites increase including dockage, navigation and bilateral charges,”

He claimed that Sri Lanka, taking a leaf from the UAE’s Jebel Ali city was in the wake of the thriving commercial activity that country enjoyed through its ‘Free Zone’ concept.

“Under this concept businesses will have to strictly conform to the government requirement of assembling and exporting the products and not bringing them into the country. In the event they bring it in they will be accordingly taxed the appropriate levies,” he said.

Other industries that would be established apart from the two vehicle assembly plants are a cement grinding plant, cement packaging plant, sugar refinery plant, three petro-chemical companies and four companies in warehousing from Pakistan, India and Switzerland among others.

http://www.thebottomline.lk/2011/06/12/page1.html

Well we'll see as time goes by...

Eleven giant investors set to start work in H’tota

Sunday, June 12, 2011

By Srian Obeyesekere

The government’s accelerated economic drive accentuated on the prime southern city’s Hambantota Port is expected to get into full swing by July once cabinet approval is given to the eleven giant foreign investors earmarked to set up business in the 2,717 acre investment zone.

Of these investors, one of the world’s giant car manufacturers from Germany, Audi is to set up a multi billion rupee vehicle assembling plant in the Hambantota Port premises besides another vehicle assembly plant by Transmec under the government’s top priority ‘Free Zone’ concept of assembling and exporting diverse technological products, Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Captain Nihal Keppitipola told The Bottom Line.

“We have identified eleven opportune giant foreign and local investors from 27 who were short listed and presently the tender papers of these investors are before the Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee pending its final approval which we are hopeful will come this month or in July,” the SLPA Chief Engineer, Agil Hewageegama, told The Bottom Line. He affirmed that work would commence shortly after the cabinet green light is given for the eleven investors who were considered the most potential business generators from an initial number of 63 investors capable of driving forward the government’s economic thrust showcased on making Sri Lanka the ‘Wonder of Asia.’

The SLPA said that an investment under one million US dollars was expected to be pumped into the Hambantota project which is seen as a huge playmaker in Sri Lanka’s economic thrust.

Meanwhile, confirming on the vehicle assembling plant the General Manager of Senok Automobiles (Pvt) Ltd, the sole agent of the prestigious Audi vehicles in Sri Lanka

Rajieve M. Fernando said that the Audi project would go ahead as planned. Accordingly, Audi will bring over its raw materials and start work in about one month’s time, informed sources said.

“The Free Zone concept on the lines of the Jebel Ali of United Arab Emirates will see some 2,500 to 3,000 acres of the Hambantota Port premises coming under the hammer of billion rupee projects within a month’s time,” the Port Authority Managing Director said. Capt. Keppitipola stressed that the ‘Free Zone’ concept strictly envisaged that all businesses bring their raw materials for production in Sri Lanka under which the Hambantota Port would play a significant role in the country’s economic thrust.

Saying that investors from many countries had shown an interest to invest in the Hambantota Port’s ‘Free Zone’ concept, the Port Authority MD said, “The Port Authority will handle the bunkering in this respect while revenue earning avenues would include throughput charges as production in these sites increase including dockage, navigation and bilateral charges,”

He claimed that Sri Lanka, taking a leaf from the UAE’s Jebel Ali city was in the wake of the thriving commercial activity that country enjoyed through its ‘Free Zone’ concept.

“Under this concept businesses will have to strictly conform to the government requirement of assembling and exporting the products and not bringing them into the country. In the event they bring it in they will be accordingly taxed the appropriate levies,” he said.

Other industries that would be established apart from the two vehicle assembly plants are a cement grinding plant, cement packaging plant, sugar refinery plant, three petro-chemical companies and four companies in warehousing from Pakistan, India and Switzerland among others.

http://www.thebottomline.lk/2011/06/12/page1.html

I saw the above article this morning and I was thrilled,,i wonder if this for domestic market and exports,,, I thought India already has an Audit plant.

http://hambantotazone.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/z_pii-artistic.jpg
http://hambantotazone.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Hambantota-Port-Administrative6-450x298.jpg
http://hambantotazone.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Hambantota-Port-Administrative4-450x334.jpg
http://hambantotazone.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Hambantota-Port-Administrative3-450x314.jpg
http://hambantotazone.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Hambantota-Port-Administrative-433x450.jpg
http://hambantotazone.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/project_image_5-450x337.jpg

Designed by Tanya & Suren Wickramasinghe Architects the, building is scheduled for completion in July 2011.

www.hambantotazone.com (http://hambantotazone.com/hambantota-port-administrative-complex/)

Air Port
http://www.arugam.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Arugam.info-airport2.jpg

http://news.lk/images/stories/gallery2011/k-p/mathraranway11-07/DSC_0469.jpg
http://news.lk/images/stories/gallery2011/k-p/mathraranway11-07/DSC_0475.jpg
http://news.lk/images/stories/gallery2011/k-p/mathraranway11-07/DSC_0478.jpg
http://news.lk/images/stories/gallery2011/k-p/mathraranway11-07/DSC_0497.jpg

News.lk (http://news.lk/home/18387-mattala-main-runway-completed)

Hambantota | International Convention Centre
http://i42.tinypic.com/1079kdw.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/jmsIH.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/HmtiM.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/KGSBg.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/BC76s.jpg


Hambantota Administrative Complex

http://i.imgur.com/j5k5v.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/GF7L0.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/uqiQY.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ZeSYV.jpg

Hambantota Port Administrative Complex

http://hambantotazone.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/z_pii-artistic.jpg
http://hambantotazone.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Hambantota-Port-Administrative6-450x298.jpg
http://hambantotazone.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Hambantota-Port-Administrative4-450x334.jpg
http://hambantotazone.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Hambantota-Port-Administrative3-450x314.jpg
http://hambantotazone.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Hambantota-Port-Administrative-433x450.jpg
http://hambantotazone.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/project_image_5-450x337.jpg

Designed by Tanya & Suren Wickramasinghe Architects the, building is scheduled for completion in July 2011.

www.hambantotazone.com (http://hambantotazone.com/hambantota-port-administrative-complex/)


Sport City

http://www.hambantota2018.com/images/why_hambantota/stories/07.jpg
http://goldcoast2018.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/president-mahinda-rajapaksa-ground-visit.jpg

Shangri-La 300 rooms resort and many more to follow,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I presume this is timely topic:):)

Thanks for the pics. Good to see some development happening. That said the sports city (and any associated games), as nice as it looks will probably be a white elephant. If at all it needs to be built closer to Colombo (or the centre of the island) in order for it to be viable. The port and airport however, if marketed properly could be a gold mine for SL.

Air Port
http://www.onlanka.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/mattala-airport.jpg



I presume this is timely topic:):)

Websites putting wrong Design of the airport.
here is the right one
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.arugam.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Arugam.info-airport2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.arugam.info/category/security-safety/environmental/&usg=__zxjMFwwvxJjuAioFFAHFDVSvcYI=&h=216&w=400&sz=50&hl=en&start=79&zoom=1&tbnid=xACZRoe7VNqPJM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=191&ei=m6sVToyeIonrgQed6HQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmattala%2Binternational%2Bairport%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D931%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=163&vpy=430&dur=733&hovh=165&hovw=306&tx=220&ty=65&page=4&ndsp=26&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:79

Websites putting wrong Design of the airport.
here is the right one
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.arugam.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Arugam.info-airport2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.arugam.info/category/security-safety/environmental/&usg=__zxjMFwwvxJjuAioFFAHFDVSvcYI=&h=216&w=400&sz=50&hl=en&start=79&zoom=1&tbnid=xACZRoe7VNqPJM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=191&ei=m6sVToyeIonrgQed6HQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmattala%2Binternational%2Bairport%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D931%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=163&vpy=430&dur=733&hovh=165&hovw=306&tx=220&ty=65&page=4&ndsp=26&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:79

my apologies, photo has been updated.:)

my apologies, photo has been updated.:)

LOL didnt need to apologize,

LOL didnt need to apologize,

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Even SriLankan has a photo of the wrong airport on their website (they say it's Mattala but its really Dubai)

http://serendib.btoptions.lk/article.php?artid=270

I for one love to see large scale development taking place outside of Colombo for once, and in the South -one of the most neglected and underdeveloped provinces in Sri Lanka for the last 60 years. This is primarily due to the arrogance and selfish attitude of the Colombo elites who look down on the rest of the population and have focused all the wealth/business/opportunities in Colombo to benefit themselves -continuing the British policy used to rule over occupied nations. A policy that was designed to create poverty and misery on a wide scale with the creation of a small section of "local" elites treated as given privileges and wealth and a "superior" attitude who would amply and willingly to assist in maintenance of their domains.
It was this attitude maintained after Independence which paved the way for discontent, destitute youth of both Sinhalese and Tamils to be easily manipulated by the various political forces into violence.

Of course its not just the South, but the whole country (save for Jaffna district till the 1980s) that was kept underdeveloped and backward by the post independent rulers. True some token projects were done but they did not fulfil the promises from which they were launched nor provide significant rewards to uplift those thrown into poverty.

The current Government has –in spite of its flaws the biggest being corruption reaching epic proportions- stuck to its promises of upliftment of the rural people. However if it does not clamp down on the corruption or at least tries a lame effort to control it, the time taken for benefits of development to trickle down to the people will be much longer.

Developing sports complexes for the people is GOOD. Exercise/sports has been proven to generate “mental/intelligence stimulation” in addition to the physical and cardiovascular benefits which means longer better and healthier lives (of course if you try becoming a giant muscle man akin to WWE you won’t live long).

I am however against this commonwealth crap. I am praying Hambantota loses its bid. Other than a giant failure and immense debt the nation will face the humiliation on many scales and levels the nation will be subjected to is something I just do not want to witness.

Praetorian: what debt ?? I thought every debt is serviced by another US$ Bond issue ?? :D :D

Fret not .. it will take another 10 years before all the lenders call their debts .. :D

I for one love to see large scale development taking place outside of Colombo for once, and in the South -one of the most neglected and underdeveloped provinces in Sri Lanka for the last 60 years.

Well I do agree with you but it looks like Hambantota is getting all the world class development whilst the rest of the country is getting development built to lower standards. Look at the sports city for example. Why are they building such an expensive sports city in Hambantota whilst the rest of the country gets crappy facilities in comparison (look at the new Premadasa and Diyagama stadiums in comparison to the proposed MR Stadium). I do agree with what you say but such development needs to be spread equally between all districts in Sri Lanka (including the north east).

Well I do agree with you but it looks like Hambantota is getting all the world class development whilst the rest of the country is getting development built to lower standards. Look at the sports city for example. Why are they building such an expensive sports city in Hambantota whilst the rest of the country gets crappy facilities in comparison (look at the new Premadasa and Diyagama stadiums in comparison to the proposed MR Stadium). I do agree with what you say but such development needs to be spread equally between all districts in Sri Lanka (including the north east).


This is the first time a Government has even bothered to develop places outside of Colombo, and i have seen the development in other places especially the East, to say it is of "low quality" is irresponsible.

And is it only now that the "need" to spread development equally arises? When a media obsession starts because the area the President happens to be from is getting development, while other areas are as well to the same amount, but a lopsided coverage is given it is "unfair" and a "problem"? No other Government tried to even develop the provinces outside of the Western province, and when one does try those who did not give a damn or attempt earlier try to find fault -they squandered their opportunity to do the same (on different fronts as well including the war) when they had the power and were in Government which in itself completely delegitimises their bogus criticisms as they are not motivated by genuine concerns but cheap politics and fears of losing votes if such endeavours are successful - so they are going out of their way to defame and undermine what is done. Focusing on Hambantota and acting like its the only place being developed is just an example. And when you take into account the sheer level of underdevelopment in the South spanning 60 years it is no surprise their some kind of focus on the South.

Anyway it is not as if the rest of the nation is being ignored. As for the North and the East in reality if you are to be fair there should be no focus on them at all and they should wait their turn because the North and East destroyed what they had and lived on life support from the other already improvised provinces (save for Colombo/Western) should they really be at the front of the queue? But having seen the work done in the East for the East saying "they should get special treatment" as if it has not been given such already is grossly unfair.

Don't get me wrong i am not opposed to providing development and opportunities to the North and East -this is being done, i am opposed to this argument being peddled of them deserving "special treatment" when they are already getting it (the East is, and the North will be soon) but everyone acts like they are not.

I have no issue with building a “sports city” for the people of the South because they DO NOT HAVE that. The people there have been denied such an opportunities and facilities for decades, as have others in the provinces outside of Colombo. If such is built on a scale beneficial to just the people I am all for it as evident, I am however opposed to the Hambantota games crap as going to that extent will lead to disaster.

This is the first time a Government has even bothered to develop places outside of Colombo, and i have seen the development in other places especially the East, to say it is of "low quality" is irresponsible.



As I said before, compare the sports villages in Hambantota and Diyagama and see which one is of lower quality. Also look at the roof and the general structure at the new Premadasa stadium and tell me that it is of good quality (especially compared with the new Indian stadiums). If you look up the Hambantota Games bid documents it says that the venues in this sports city will be built at a cost of approx $500 million USD, regardless of the games bid outcome. $500 million USD is a lot of money which could be better used on health, water and transport. But I do see the need for a number of sporting complexes (albeit on a smaller scale) to be developed around the country and not just in Hambantota.

As I said before, compare the sports villages in Hambantota and Diyagama and see which one is of lower quality. Also look at the roof and the general structure at the new Premadasa stadium and tell me that it is of good quality (especially compared with the new Indian stadiums). If you look up the Hambantota Games bid documents it says that the venues in this sports city will be built at a cost of approx $500 million USD, regardless of the games bid outcome. $500 million USD is a lot of money which could be better used on health, water and transport. But I do see the need for a number of sporting complexes (albeit on a smaller scale) to be developed around the country and not just in Hambantota.

Yes, I agree with you that Hambantota is not the only city that needs all the facilities and the best of everythings.

fuck colombo im moving to H town

Building booms in Sri Lanka president's home town

Features 2011-08-17 12:01

by Amal Jayasinghe

HAMBANTOTA, August 17, 2011 (AFP) - When the 2004 Asian tsunami hit Sri Lanka, the sleepy fishing region of Hambantota was flattened and 3,000 people perished. Now it is riding a massive wave of construction.

Hambantota, the home constituency of President Mahinda Rajapakse, is not only emerging as a commercial and logistics hub of Sri Lanka, but is also attracting attention as a new geo-political hotspot in South Asia.

"The port in Hambantota will be the catalyst to make Hambantota the new commercial capital of Sri Lanka in the next three years," said Priyath Wickrama, the chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

He dismissed suggestions that the Chinese who were given contracts to build the first phase of the $1.5 billion deep-sea port will have a foothold in the region and be a threat to neighbouring India.

"What we have with China is purely a commercial transaction," Wickrama said. "The Chinese will have nothing to do with running the port. We are opening up the port area for investments in industries by anybody."

Indian officials have expressed fears that the southern town is part of a Chinese policy to throw a "string of pearls" -- or a circle of influence -- around South Asia's nuclear-armed regional power India.

South Asia expert at the London-based Chatham House think-tank, Gareth Price, said China's port developments in the region were primarily aimed at supporting its own economic growth rather than any sinister strategic move.

"India believes it is their backyard and wants to know what China is doing there (in the Indian Ocean region)," Price said. "Is there a sinister design? Even if there was, it would be secondary."

China is building ports in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Pakistan, and has plans for rail projects in Nepal and as well as in Sri Lanka.

Concerned with the growing Chinese presence, India opened a consulate in Hambantota, the first diplomatic mission in the region, in November last year.

"It is no secret that we are very concerned about the Chinese presence in Hambantota," an Indian diplomat who declined to be named said. "We have marked our presence with the consulate."

For the Sri Lankan government, the port is the centrepiece of a major development drive in an area which was a backwater for decades as the island grappled with its separatist war.

Ambitious projects

With the fighting finally over in May 2009, the government has been pouring millions of dollars into a string of ambitious projects financed through commercial loans.

"We are building a planned city," said civil administrator W. A. Dharmasiri. He said they had fully recovered from the December 2004 tsunami and the once-backward, poverty-stricken region is now unrecognisable.

An abandoned saltworks is the new deep-sea port. A short distance away, the Chinese are also building a new international airport capable of accommodating the giant Airbus A380 aircraft, a first for the island.

Dharmasiri said Hambantota, which has less than a quarter of the 2.2 million population of the capital Colombo, will end up having the island's best road network and other infrastructure.

A new expressway linking Colombo, 160 kilometres (100 miles) away, is nearing completion. Even the smaller roads in Hambantota are being improved.

"All our streets will be turned into four-lane roads," Dharmasiri said warning that the rapid construction could see a major labour shortage in the district which once had one of the worst unemployment records in Sri Lanka.

A world-class convention centre and the island's first dry-zone botanical gardens are coming up and a new cricket stadium, named after the president, hosted two World Cup matches earlier this year.

The seven-million dollar stadium confounded critics who doubted its viability, but Hambantota is now setting its sights on an even more ambitious project -- hosting the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

"We expect 4,000 new hotel rooms in Hambantota in the next five years," said Nivard Cabraal, Sri Lanka's Central Bank governor who is also a key figure in the city's bid to host the Games in competition with Australia's Gold Coast.

Hambantota encompasses the Yala National Park, the island's largest wild-life sanctuary known for elephants, leopards and migratory birds, but for decades its tourism potential had been neglected due to poor infrastructure.

All that is rapidly changing. Dump trucks criss-cross the countryside carrying building materials, while hundreds of workers can be seen laying new roads and erecting high rise buildings.

The region lost some 4,000 houses to the tsunami but 6,000 have been built, providing an excess of accommodation, officials said.

The beachfront of Hambantota town, where hundreds of houses were completely washed away during the tsunami, is now being cleared to host the first South Asian beach games to be held later this year.

Port engineer Sahan de Silva said Hambantota will start fuel storage services later this year with capacity of 80,000 tonnes. Just south of the port is one of the world's busiest sea lanes used by 200 to 300 ships daily.

Central Bank governor Cabraal denies that Hambantota is getting special attention because it is the president's home constituency and plays down the strategic geo-politics of the region.

"Plans had been there for the past 25 years, but successive governments failed to implement them," Cabraal said. "Hambantota will add a new dimension to our economic activity and we are open to investors from any country."

http://www.mysinchew.com/node/62311

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Tank Farm U/C
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The blasting work of the Seabed Rock which obstructs the arrival of large ships to the Hambantota Port is getting delayed owing to the ongoing Monsoon weather, says an Official.

Agil Hewageegana, the Chief Engineer of the Hambantota Port told news360.lk, “we have stopped the blasting work of the rock during last 3 months owing to the Monsoon weather”.
He said during the Monsoon, the sea is rough and its difficulty to carry out work.

According to him, blasting of the seabed rock will commence only after the month of September when the Monsoon season ends.
However Hewageegana disclosed that a major part of the seabed rock has been already blasted away and only a small part still remains.
“Only 3 weeks of time is required to blast the remaining parts of the rock”, added Hewageegana.

Despite the stoppage in blasting the seabed rock Hewageegana said ships can now enter the Hambantota Port.
He said already 8 ships have arrived into the port including 3 large container vessels which were anchored by local pilots.
Hewageegana says once the sea bed rock is removed the Port will be able to get the “Admiralty Chart”, which is an international maritime requirement needed to operate a port.

When asked whether the authorities did not know about the existence of seabed rock of this magnitude, Hewageegana disclosed that it was evident only after they started construction work of the port.

News360 (http://www.news360.lk/other/monsoon-weather-delays-blasting-work-of-the-seabed-rock-in-the-hambantota-port)
Bit of a set-back but we will get there,, hoping all would be ready by end of this year!

Work on fertiliser plant by Hayleys Plc in partnership with Dragon Asia Fertiliser Ltd - first of three ventures with multi-million dollar investments starts today

Likely to silence critics, Hambantota’s initial aim as an industrial port will get a big boost today, when first of the three mega ventures starts work.
The groundbreaking ceremony on $ 7.4 million fertiliser plant by Hayleys Plc in partnership with Hong Kong-based Dragon Asia Fertiliser Ltd., at Magampura Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port will be held at 10 a.m.
Hayleys' venture is among the three initial projects approved by the Government. The other two are are petrochemical plant by Singapore’s Peak Energy Ltd. and a sugar refinery plant by India’s Shree Renuka Sugar Ltd.
These three are part of an envisaged US$ 1 billion project pipeline for Hambantota Port.
Hayleys is taking leadership as the first Sri Lankan private sector firm to foray into the Hambantota Port. It will operate a fertiliser storage, processing and bagging plant on a 2.5 hectares of land area.
The sugar plant will encompass 20 hectares whilst the petrochemical venture will located on a plot of 15 hectares.
Last week Cabinet approved an investment by Thatta Cement Company of Pakistan to set up a cement grinding and bagging plant in Hambantota. Vehicle assembling and warehouses are some of the prospective new ventures.
The SLPA originally floated a Request of Proposal (RFP) which drew 27 entrepreneurs interested in developing business ventures within the Hambantota Port. Of this 14 were identified and shortlisted.
SLPA Chairman Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama had maintained that the Cabinet of Ministers has already been given approval for three business ventures, investment amounting to more than US$ 600 million.
A ship repair yard is also planned to establish within the Hambantota Port premises in an area of 48 hectares of land. As the demand of the investors is high, another RFP will also be planned to float soon, Dr. Wickrama said.
The Hambantota Port with an investment of $ 1.4 billion was commissioned last year to tap the vast maritime and trade potential via the country’s strategic location.
China on commercial terms loaned a combined $ 1.24 billion to build the port and a four million metric tonne fuel bunkering facility, all of it built by Chinese engineers.


FT.LK (http://www.ft.lk/2011/12/05/hambantota-happening/)

I heard there were some talks of opening a VW assembling plant

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Awesome.. looks like the tank farm nearly ready :cheers: