The old Matara-Kataragam road was blasted yesterday morning connecting the Magampura Harbour with sea. Filling of sea water into the basin of Magampura Port that commenced following the auspicious ceremony held on the 15th August 2010 has now been completed.
Magampura Port emerges as one of the five harbours being constructed and developed around the country. 85% of the total investment of US $360 of Magampura Port construction has been extended by the Exim bank of the People's Republic of China and the balance 15% is invested by Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).
An oil tank farm project is also being constructed under Magampura Port Project with a cost of US$ 76. The facility will consist of 14 tanks with a capacity of 80000 cubic metres. It will consist of 08 tanks for marine fuel and 03 tanks for aviation fuel. The constructions of the tank project have also been expedited parallel to the completion of phase one of Magmpura Port Project. Meanwhile, constructions of the administration building of 75000 square feet for Magampura Port have also been commenced and at the completion, the 15 storied building will reach a height of 200 feet.
The first vessel is expected to be berthed at Magmapura Port in the month of November this year which will enable to commence its operations. A number of foreign and local entrepreneurs have already expressed interest to invest in the business opportunities available at the port. Expressing views on the latest progress of the project, Dr. P.B.Wickrama, Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority stated that with the development of the new port, the targets expressed in 'Mahinda Chinthana' for the collaborative regional development of the country could be fruitfully achieved through the large number of direct and indirect employment opportunities that are created parallel to the project in the future.
The idea of building a port in Hambantota was first suggested by none other than the late Mr. D A Rajapaksa back in 1946, but nothing came out of it, until President Mahinda Rajapaksa became the President of Sri Lanka in november 2005. The Magampura Port itself is a wonder, as the whole port was constructed inland, the first of its kind, in the world. The port will enable to handle extremely large vessels such as 100,000 DWT vessels.
It has an approach channel of 210 meters wide and with a depth of 21 meters. The project will consist of two 600m general purpose berths, a 310m bunkering berth and a 120m small craft berth. The total project covers 4,000 acres of land. The Port will open the flood gate for establishing many industrial projects in the adjacent areas, and employment opportunities for several thousand in the Hambantota, Matara, Moneragala and Ratnapura districts.
