Construction work of the Hambantota Logistics International Service Center, the first connected storage complex at the Hambantota International Port, commenced today under the patronage of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The Premier unveiled a plaque marking the commencement of construction work on the warehouse in a one-hectare land.
At the invitation of Mr. Johnson Liu, CEO of the Hambantota International Ports Group (HIPG), the Prime Minister joined the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mr. Qi Zhenhong, on an inspection tour of the port premises.
The Premier also visited the RoRo operations unit at the Hambantota International Port and observed the re-shipment of vehicles.
The port has handled over 500,000 vehicles this year alone, said Johnson Liu, CEO of the Hambantota International Ports Group. It is also the highest number of vehicles handled by the Hambantota Port so far.
Vehicles from the Indian ports of Chennai, Mundra, Enor, South Korea’s Gunsan, Pyontech and Japan’s Osaka, Kobe and Nagoya are brought to the port of Hambantota and reshipped to Durban, South Africa, Veracruz, Mexico, San Antonio, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and Le Havre, France.
The Premier also observed the Electronic Devices Manufacturing Industry Zone implemented on the concept of plug and play ‘Park in park’ manufacturing facility set up by the Shenzhen Xinji Group within the port’s industrial zone and the tire manufacturing plant premises being built by Ceylon Tire Manufacturing Pvt.
The raw material as well as the manpower for the tire factory production is sourced locally. The 55.8-hectare tire manufacturing plant will be built in two phases at a cost of US $ 600 million.
The CEO of the HIPG also briefed the Prime Minister on the progress made by the Hambantota Port, and future development plans.
Coinciding with the visit was the exchange of a memorandum by Minister Chamal Rajapaksa and CEO of the Hambantota International Ports Group, Mr. Johnson Liu, on the project to develop the Lunugamvehera Village as the “Village of Hope” by the Hambantota International Ports Group.
Ministers Chamal Rajapaksa, G.L. Peiris, Namal Rajapaksa, Member of Parliament Ajith Rajapaksa, Chairman of the Southern Provincial Council Somawansa Kodagoda, Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Shipping UDC Jayalal, Chairman of the Ports Authority Captain Nihal Keppetipola, Chairman of the Colombo Logistics Group Eric Ambalangodage and other government officials were also present on the occasion.
Source : Colombo Page
