6 February 2016 12:00 am
Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) said that Hambantota Port is to receive the biggest cruise ship, ‘MS Rotterdam’ tomorrow.
Measuring 238 m in length and comprising 600 staff, MS Rotterdam is a Netherlands owned luxury cruise ship. The ship leaving India’s Cochin harbour, is expected to arrive at the Hambantota port at 8.a.m. Apporoximately 1176 passengers will be arriving in Sri Lanka by this vessel.
‘Europa 2’ has been the largest cruise liner to call at Hambantota port thus far. Measuring 226 in length the ship dropped anchor at the Hambantota port 29 of January this year.
The MS Rotterdam is renowned as one of the biggest luxury cruise liners in the world, and has capability of carrying approximately 1500 passengers.
“We can focus on several sectors and carry out Hambantota port development work. First one is developing the industrial zones at the port area. This area has great cultural and historical value. Kirinda, Kataragama, and Sella- Kataragama have great cultural and historical value. Furthermore Bundala, Palatupana, Yala and Udawalawa can be mentioned as environmentally-significant areas. The tourists visit these places to see the wild animals.
So it has great potential to increase the number of vessel arrivals to Hambantota port. I feel increasing the number of tourist vessel to Hambantota port would add value to the economy,” Ports and Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga noted.