ASIA

Minister faces down opposition

21 years ago

Sri Lankas Ports and Aviation Minister, Mangala Samaraweera, says the government is determined to go ahead with construction of Hambantota Port, despite the fact that there are both domestic and foreign interests which oppose the project.

As an initial phase, a bunkering system composed of four pipelines and a 10-tank farm will be established at a cost of US$80m. Work will be undertaken by China’s Huanqiu Contracting and Engineering Corporation. However, eventually Hambantota will become a container transhipment port.

In the meantime, the project to expand facilities at Colombo South Port is also to be progressed, given that existing facilities will reach saturation in 2008. Construction, which is scheduled to go ahead in 2006, will consist of four terminals/12 berths capable of accommodating the largest ships afloat, it is said.

A new US$300m breakwater will be two-thirds financed by the Asian Development Bank, with Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) to fund the rest. Suggestions have also been put forward that management of the port be converted to a private public partnership, whereby a private company would manage facilities, although ownership of infrastructure would remain with the SLPA.

The Minister also noted that the development of a new port at Galle would go ahead at a cost of US$200m, with new construction funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. The existing Galle Port is to be converted into a yachting marina.