High Commissioner of India
H.E. Ashok K. Kantha
addressing at the event to
formally hand over the
“Joint Post Dredging Survey”
chart of the KKS harbour, to
Capt. Nihal Keppetipola,
Managing Director of Sri
Lanka Ports Authority
(right).
Making "Mahinda Chinthana"
development policy of the
Present Government of His
Excellency the President
Mahinda Rajapaksa a reality,
to build Sri Lanka the
Regional Maritime Hub with
the advantage of its unique
geographical location, Sri
Lanka Ports Authority led by
its Chairman Dr.Priyath
B.Wickrama under the
instructions by Hon.Minister
of Port and Highways
(Project) – Rohitha
Abegunawardhane has taken
all key measures in time to
develop the ports around the
country. Accordingly,
development drive of the
Kankasanthurai (KKS) Harbour
commenced in parellel to
the ‘Uthuru Wasanthaya’
progrmme.
Much recently the High
Commissioner of India H.E.
Ashok K. Kantha,
participated in a brief
ceremony at Kankasanthurai (KKS)
Harbour to mark the
completion of the dredging
operations of its Access
Channel, the Harbour Basin
and the Access Channel for
the proposed berth. The
“Joint Post Dredging Survey”
chart here, was formally
handed over by the High
Commissioner to Capt. Nihal
Keppetipola, Managing
Director of Sri Lanka Ports
Authority (SLPA).The
dredging work at the KKS
Harbour has been undertaken
by the Dredging Corporation
of India (DCI), a public
sector undertaking of the
Government of India. Consul
General of India Mr. V.
Mahalingam, Mr Nielkhawsiem,
Manager(Operations) of DCI
and senior officials of the
Navy were also present at
the event.
With the completion of
dredging operation, four
phases of the Project
supported through grant
assistance from the
Government of India of US$
25 million had been
completed satisfactorily.
This had paved the way for
commencement of rest of the
work by SLPA, under a
concessional line of credit
from the Government of
India. The rehabilitation of
the Harbour would go a long
way in development of
economic infrastructure in
the Northern Province,
support domestic as well as
regional commerce and
connectivity as well as pave
the way for exploitation of
KKS Harbour as a commercial
port.
The KKS Harbour
rehabilitation project is a
complex and wide-ranging
project, with multiple
phases involving preliminary
hydrographic survey in Phase
I, geo-technical
investigations and
preparation of Detailed
Project Report in Phase II,
wreck removal and disposal
in Phase III, dredging in
Phase IV, rehabilitation of
breakwater/pier and
construction of new pier
with attendant Port
facilities in Phase V and
final hydrographic survey
and preparation of Harbour
chart in Phase VI. Phase V
and Phase VI would be
executed through a
concessional line of credit
provided by the Government
of India to the Government
of Sri Lanka.
The project scope of the KKS
Port developmnet would
mainly focus of the
transportation of essential
products and produce between
southern and northern
regions excpecting to feed
the ongoing developmental
activities in the region
whilst enhancing a greater
co-operation between the
naighbouring countries. It
will also enable the boost
of business activities and
will greatly contribute
towards the regional
socio-economic development
as well.
The project is implemented
by SLPA, the executing
authority with an estimated
cost of US $ 44.7 million
obtained under a state loan
facility.
(CPRD15052013)