Port Industries

Dec 25, 2009 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's cabinet of ministers has kicked off the process to bring private enterprises to a new industrial port in Hambantota in the south of the island, the government's information office said.







The first phase of the port, which is being financed and built by China also includes a bunker terminal to serve ships by passing Sri Lanka. Hambantota lies by the side of a major sea lane.



The ministers had given the nod to set up a cabinet appointed negotiation committee and a project committee to prepare requests for proposals and negotiate with investors to start a series of industries by April 2011.

The first phase of the Hambantota port is expected to be finished by that time.

The government will call proposals for a cement grinding plan, a cement bagging plant, two fertilizer bagging plants, a vehicle assembly plant, warehousing complex, and a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) plant and ship repair facilities.

Proposals will also be called for roll on roll off (RO-RO) terminals and non-containerized cargo terminals.

The projects will be 'public private partnerships' a note to cabinet submitted by port minister Chamal Rajapaksa said.