A dockyard at Hambantota Port

7 September 2015 06:24 pm - 18 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The government in a bid to make the Hambantota Port a viable commercial venture, has decided to develop dockyard facilities at the port at an estimated cost of Rs. 2 billion.

A Chinese Company has responded positively to Ports and Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga’s call for expression of interests from potential investors to build dockyard facilities at the Hambantota Port, a ministry source said today.

The minister told Daily Mirror discussions were likely to be held with the Chinese company to work out the terms and conditions for investing in the Hambantota Port Project to make it a profit-making venture with employment opportunities for several thousands.

“The expression of interest for investment in the Hambantota Port Project has been forwarded to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe by China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. (CHEC). The expression of interest has been referred to the Sub Committee on Economic Affairs and it has instructed that a total package be formulated for this investment,” he said.

The minister has also conducted a several rounds of talks with SLPA officials and CHEC representatives to discuss the CHEC potential and interest to develop, manage and operate a dockyard for ship building and repair at the Hambantota Port.

Meanwhile, Daily Mirror learns that the CHEC has requested the issuance of a letter indicating the Government's interest in granting them an exclusivity period of 12 months to prepare a detailed plan and a feasibility study and sign an MoU between the GOSL and the CHEC.

The minister is reported to have instructed Ministry Secretary L.P. Jayampathy to issue a letter to CHEC expressing the government’s willingness to proceed with the project based on Government regulations and procedures.

The first phase of the Hambantota Port was launched on November 18, 2010 with the ceremonial berthing of the naval vessel "Jetliner". The total estimated cost of Phase 1 was US$361 million (approximately Rs.47 billion) out of which 85% was funded by the Exim Bank of China.

The Habantota Port Project came under heavy critisism from the opposition which alleged that the project had failed to provide the expected dividends to the economy and that the entire project was a waste of money. (Sandun A Jayasekera)

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Comments - 18

Sapu Tuesday, 08 September 2015 09:01 AM

Our existing Dockyard in Colombo is very small, a larger dockyard will do well

kal Wednesday, 09 September 2015 10:26 AM

A very wise decision made. Take examples from Singapore, so many repair berths and thus this become a repair hub. Congratulations Mr. Arjuna

R S S Perera Tuesday, 08 September 2015 09:25 PM

CHEC again ?Beware of another Trojan Horse.

Das Tuesday, 08 September 2015 04:40 PM

No Chinese any more. They oil palms.Readvertise in Europe

Waco Tuesday, 08 September 2015 12:33 PM

Have a well planed 10 year development plan for Hambantota.

Lalith Tuesday, 08 September 2015 10:57 AM

A relief that they understand the importance of infrastructure development

Bala Tuesday, 08 September 2015 09:38 AM

Yes we have to get whatever revenue and put these white elephants to deliver some benefit to the people. All four Hambantota projects are hardly used - Port, Airport, Stadium and Convention Centre and were only to boost Rajapaksa at heavy cost to country. With that money we could have put up so many things - including four large warehouses one in each paddy producing district. No planning cost us a lot.

Bippity Boppity Boo Tuesday, 08 September 2015 09:37 AM

That is nice. Has a study been done on the business model for this project. It is not mentioned in the article. I think people who play cricket should continue to be in the field of sport and not technical projects.

sacre blieu Tuesday, 08 September 2015 09:29 AM

Would be an excellent move, and it should be essential Sri Lankan majority owned and the share ownership of up to 30 % should be broadly distributed to the public with proven credentials , with a major proportion to minorities.. No front or fictitious names should be tolerated. The transfer of these shares should also to be limited and continued to be of ownership to minority interest.

Giabao Tuesday, 08 September 2015 12:20 AM

So it is same process, same parties, and same .............. LOL, LOL,

sanath ekanayake Tuesday, 08 September 2015 08:22 AM

Use your brain. there may be short comings, but harbor was already made, Rectify the faults. and develop the same harbor and make profit. Instead of making fish tank and paddy stores. .,. .. .

Cobra Tuesday, 08 September 2015 07:54 AM

Then the Paddy storage at Mattala is justifiable!

Gontha ponil Tuesday, 08 September 2015 07:20 AM

Seeni gabadawata maru. Goni diyawenne nae ne.

Pxx Tuesday, 08 September 2015 07:19 AM

The greatest governance challenge existed when the organisation, or the environment in which it operated, was moving from one phase of the cycle into another. This required the board and executive to not only identify where they were in the cycle, but also predict the range of potential outcomes that could arise form alternative courses of action during the subsequent phases of the cycle.

Waco Tuesday, 08 September 2015 03:44 AM

Arjuna, make the Mattala Air Port also a viable unit. Undoing is easier, but wasting tax- payers money.

karthi Tuesday, 08 September 2015 02:49 AM

Dockyard at Hambantota is good but ensure that ships will definitely call otherwise it will be the same old song you will have to hear.

karthi Tuesday, 08 September 2015 02:49 AM

Dockyard at Hambantota is good but ensure that ships will definitely call otherwise it will be the same old song you will have to hear.

kumaraya Tuesday, 08 September 2015 02:00 AM

Can we PLEASE have clear details of this "project". Has a detailed study of usage, marketability, costs and ROCs and OWNERSHIP of the dockyard been done? If so, we as citizens want details.

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A dockyard at Hambantota Port

Comments - 18

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