Hambantota Port project to start soon

THE Government is determined to go ahead with the Hambantota Port project despite tangible pressure from various international forces that oppose the setting up of a port at this strategic location, Ports and Aviation Minister Mangala Samaraweera declared yesterday.

"We are determined to complete this all-new port regardless of whoever opposes it," Minister Samaraweera told the media at a special briefing in Colombo.

The Minister observed that there were forces within and outside Sri Lanka who did not want to see a port at Hambantota, which will facilitate shipping lines using one of the busiest sea lanes in the world.

Construction is due to begin soon on the port, which many experts have contended would affect a number of regional ports.

"There are international forces who don't want that to happen. There are forces within our institutions who don't want to see a port at Hambantota," the Minister alleged.

The first phase of the project will be a bunkering system (four pipelines ) and a 10-tank farm, estimated to cost US$ 80 million. An agreement in this regard was signed in April with China's Huanqiu Contracting and Engineering Corporation and funding for the project will be on a Government to Government basis. The construction of the tank farm is scheduled for next month.

The Hambantota Port will eventually evolve from a ship bunkering port to a fully-fledged container port.

The Minister also disclosed that plans were underway to start the Colombo South Port Project soon. "The Colombo Port in its present form will reach saturation point in 2008. A new port is thus urgently required. We must begin construction of the new port in 2006," he said.

The proposed port will house four terminals (12 berths) and will handle the new generation of mega ships. The breakwater of the port will be developed at a cost of US$ 300 million. The Asian Development bank will contribute US$ 200 million, while the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) will contribute the rest.

It has also been suggested that the Port be managed on a Private Public Partnership basis, with a private company managing the venture under the ownership of the SLPA.

The Minister also disclosed plans for the development of the Galle Port from 2006 at a cost of US$ 200 million. The port, placed farther out from the present location, is estimated to cost US$ 140 million.

Construction will be funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). The existing port at Galle will be converted to a yacht marina.

The Trincomalee Port will also be developed, as part of an overall plan to upgrade the city's tourist facilities. The Oluvil Port will be constructed with Danish help.

The Dutch Government has agreed to grant US$ 33 million for urgent repairs of the KKS harbour.

Several mega shipping lines have confirmed that they would start new services to Colombo, officials said.

Khalid

News Today

Tsunami relief idling at Colombo Port

While the International Community continues to send essential items and other necessities for the tsunami victims, our own Colombo Port authorities and Finance Ministry allegedly treat essential relief consignments sent by foreign Governments, organizations, etc, with callous indifference, informed sources claimed.

In one such incident, the Saudi Government and other Saudi officials reportedly at their own expense dispatched 46 container loads of essential items to Sri Lankan tsunami victims during the first week of April, had suffered neglect at the hands of Port authorities.

The clearance of this consignment of humanitarian relief was inordinate by delay when certain officials of the Colombo Port and the e Ministry refused to release them. So far only some 15 of these containers have been released, and this too after the Saudi benefactors offered to pay customs clearing charges. Meanwhile, the consignee had to pay demurrage charges brought about by the roadblocks erected by the Air Force personnel who are deployed by authorities to ensure 100% percent checking of all relief containers

According to the sources, delaying tactics were employed by the authorities although the Saudi Embassy Officials in Colombo completed the stipulated procedures for clearance of the shipment. The Embassy had also made repeated requests for clearance from the Finance Ministry. But on April 22, a letter from the by the Director General, Fiscal Policy of the Finance Ministry notified that the shipment concerned was not DPL Cargo, and would hence was subject to routine clearance procedure.

“It’s a tragic situation. Still 30 containers are at the Port awaiting clearance, even after many weeks, since the consignment arrived,” sources pointed out.

Trinco still tense as Buddha statue crisis simmers - partial Harthal continues

Trincomalee town remained tense, though eased in comparison with yesterday's crisis level, with the LTTE sponsored Harthal only partially in force. The controversial Buddha statue remained in place while Sinhalese shops re-opened with heavy armed patrols visible on the streets.

Trincomalee Magistrate and Additional District Judge M.Ganesharaja yesterday instructed the Police to initiate a dialogue between all concerned parties to find a peaceful resolution to the Buddha statue crisis in Trincomalee , a court official said.

In court for the hearing were UC Special Commissioner S.Arumainayagam, UC Secretary S.Vipulanandan ,TDTPF President V.Vigneswaran, Trincomalee Head Quarters Inspector and ASP Priyantha.The Secretary of the Three Wheelers' Association was absent during the hearing.

ASP Priyantha submitted to the court that if Buddha statues were to be removed then the question regarding two unauthorized Kovils in the same vicinity would arise. However, there had not been any complaints so far against Kovils or other unauthorized religious monuments and statues. The Magistrate directed the Police to work in co-operation with the UDA and Urban Council to deal with such matters towards a peaceful resolution, should any complaints against the Kovils be received.

The situation was far from normalcy with Tamil shops keeping shutters closed for the third consecutive day, Army spokesman Brigadier Daya Ratnayake said.

In Colombo, officials in both the Buddha Sasana Ministry and the Hindu Religious and Cultural Affairs, had no comment when contacted.