Exclusive island of 48 hectares off Hambantota nears completion
View(s):Sri Lanka’s map is set to change in the South with the Hambantota port city project island with a land mass of 48 hectares nearing completion.
Despite the hype in Colombo, Hambantota has been silently completing the port city project by filling earth in the Indian Ocean to add an island to the Sri Lankan map with an area of 48 hectares. This was confirmed by Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman D. Lakdas Panagoda.
This port project was meant to be exclusive to foreigners and locals permitted entry upon receipt of a pass as announced last year January by former SLPA Chairman Priyath Bandu Wickrama.
Dr. Panagoda said they have currently temporarily suspended work on the island and on the other hand have asked the workers to use the sand to increase capacity on the port vehicle parking area to increase number of vessels entering the port for vehicle transhipment.
Scheduled for completion by end 2015 and early 2016 the island is currently positioned around 300 metres away from the shoreline.
SLPA officials at the time of commencement of the project reportedly stated that the new island would be established since they were unable to find space to dump the excavated sand around the port.
About 20 million cubic metres of soil excavation was being carried out.