India Sri Lanka Sign Deal to Develop Kankesanturai Port in the Northern Jaffna Peninsula that was Damaged during the War

22nd July 2011, www.island.lk

India is to provide Sri Lanka with grants and soft loans to rebuild Kankesanturai port in the northern Jaffna peninsula that was damaged during the ethnic war, under a deal signed Thursday.

India has already committed 20 million US dollars for the work which involves a hydrographic survey, wreck removal and dredging, along with rehabilitation of the breakwater and construction of a new pier and attendant port facilities, a High Commission statement said.

The agreement signed is part of the package of assistance India promised among other infrastructure projects in the Northern Province.

Indian High Commissioner Ashok K Kantha said the project would contribute towards reconstruction efforts, restore traditional domestic and regional linkages and give a fillip to economic activity by encouraging trade and generate employment.

Total expenditure on the project will be determined by the ‘Detailed Project Report’ (DPR) that is to be prepared.

But India has already committed about 20 million dollars (2.2 billion rupees) for the preliminary hydrographic survey, geotechnical investigations and DPR preparation and wreck removal and salvage.

"In addition to this, the Government of India will provide additional grant funding for the dredging of the harbour and concessional credit for the rehabilitation of the breakwater and construction of a new pier and attendant port facilities," the statement said.

Related Info :

• Sri Lanka to Develop Northern Kankesanturai Port with Indian Aid

• Cement Plant North of Sri Lanka to be Rebuilt; Expression of Interest from Investors Called by the Ministry

• Jaffna Fort Turns into a Tourist Attraction. Sri Lanka's Colonial Era Fort was Fought over during the recent War

Sri Lanka President Commissions Hambantota Magampura Port. 2nd Phase of Construction Begins

18th November 2010, www.priu.gov.lk

Sri Lanka’s new deep sea port 'Magama Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port', Hambantota on the south coast of the island has today (Thursday 18 November) been officially opened with the ceremonial docking of the first vessel to use the port facilities.

At the auspicious time of 11.57am, the second phase of the port began construction.

In a ceremony presided over by President Mahinda Rajapaksa as part of the week long festivities surrounding his official inauguration for his second term in office, a ship dropped anchor in Hambantota’s Magampura harbour to a traditionally warm and colourful Sri Lankan welcome from the huge crowds gathered on the waterfront and quaysides.

Mr. Sang Guowei, Special Envoy of the President of PR of China, Hu Jintao was among those who attended the ceremony. Mr. Sang is the Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China.

A traditional sailing yacht was chosen in recognition of Sri Lanka’s age old role as a key stopping point on the ancient east-west silk trading route. It was followed into harbour by the Sri Lankan passenger ship Jetliner.

Phase One of the port, operated by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and completed this year ahead of the scheduled completion in April 2011, is an integral part of the Government’s programme of economic action and reconstruction of transport and trade infrastructure after the successful conclusion of the three decade long struggle against LTTE terrorism. It lies at the heart of a strategy to make Sri Lanka an import/export, marine services and transshipment hub at the locus of key worldwide shipping routes.

The port is located just 10 nautical miles from one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, used by up to 200 vessels every day, and can handle vessels of up to 100,000 DWT.

A government spokesman said: “The successful completion and opening of the superb docking and cargo facilities at Hambantota epitomises the determination of the Sri Lankan Government and people to capitalise on the opportunity that is offered by the island’s new era of peace, to bring prosperity to all.

“The opening of Hambantota port ushers in a new era which will transform Sri Lanka’s important transport and shipping industry. We look forward to welcoming increased global trade through what is one of the world’s most modern ports.”

Phase one of the new Hambantota port was constructed by the China Harbour Engineering Company at a cost of some US$ 360 million and includes provision for a high quality passenger terminal, cargo handling, warehousing, bunkering, provisioning, maintenance and repair, medical supplies and customs clearing facilities.

The 2,000 hectares of land immediately surrounding the new port is to be developed as a dedicated investment and industrial zone, with 65 domestic and international investor businesses having already expressed an interest. It is anticipated that, once phase two of the Hambantota port project is completed in April 2011, the port will provide 40% of Government income by 2020 and create 10,000 direct and over 60,000 indirect new job opportunities.

Further Government expansion of, and investment in, modern port facilities is underway at Galle, Oluvil, Trincomalee, Kankasanthurai and Colombo.

Sri Lanka's Hambantota Port Will Be A Free Port with No Tax Involvement

03rd March 2010, www.dailynews.lk, By Sanjeevi Jayasuriya, Pictures By Saliya Rupasinghe

Hambantota which is an industrial port will be a free port with no tax involvements. Users are free to use the port for loading, value addition and distribution without any taxes. “Our target is to start cargo handling operations before the end of this year with the expected investments in place”, Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA) Chairman Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama told Daily News Business.

“The free port concept will enable the port users to operate without additional charges other than port handling and rent or lease charges,” the Chairman said.

“The Hambantota Port could meet the revenue target by attracting 10 percent of the ships passing the port. Therefore, special emphasis is paid to the facilities offered by the port to make it of high standard and quality, he said.

Container handling at the Colombo Port. The Hambantota Port will help Lanka’s economy.

The Hambantota Port Phase One will be completed by end of October one year ahead of schedule. It is expected to generate 5,000 direct and 50,000 indirect job opportunities.

Youth in the Hambantota area will have openings for numerous employment avenues and it is necessary to provide them with technical training necessary for the skilled and semi skilled categories.

The Government is planning to set up a Free Trade Zone between Hambantota port and Weerawila airport. This will also generate many employment opportunities.

“We have a challenge to upgrade manpower to meet the growing demand created by the development activities in the area.

The SLPA has started its own training programs with the assistance of the NAITA and other technical colleges in the area.

However, these programs are not sufficient to train the entire workforce and we seek assistance from technical colleges in Ratnapura, Moneragala and Matara to meet the demand, Wickrama said.

Meanwhile the project committee formed two months back will complete the Request For Proposal (RFP) process and finalize the investor profile for the investment opportunities created by the Hambantota Port development activities within a month.

There will be investment opportunities in cement, fertilizer, warehousing, raw material, multi country consolidation, food processing, assembling and value addition at the port after the completion of this process.

Hambantota Port Phase I Features

* Project Duration : 39 months

* Commencement Date : January 15, 2008

* Project Cost : US $ 361 million

* Design Vessel Size : 100,000 DWT

* Breakwater Lengths : West Breakwater 920m

East Breakwater 310m

* Approach Channel : 210m width at 16m depth

* Service vessel Berth : 105m long

* Oil Terminal Birth : 310m long at 16m depth

* Quay wall (General Cargo) : 600m long at 17m depth

* Administrative complex : 14 Stores with 10,400 m2 floor area

Hambantota Port (Harbour) on Google Maps