The new administrative complex, SayuruPaya’ of Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port (MRMRP) was declared open  by His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa – the President of the Socialist Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka on Friday the 08^th November 2013. The building is situated  bordering the idyllic southern beach front of the new port.

The Administrative Building at the site commenced constructions as a part of the main project  on 07.10.2009. The building consists of 14 stories including 100,000 sq. ft. and with a height of  200 ft. With the opening of the new building, sooner, the all port customers at MRMRP will be able to fulfill all customer requirements at this one-stop centre. The new administrative building has been constructed with a cost of Rs. one billion.

Preview of history of Construction of  MRMRP

During the official visit of His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, to China in 2007, to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of bilateral friendship between the People's Republic of China and Sri Lanka, special negotiations were held with the Chinese President His Excellency Hu Jintao to obtain financial assistance to construct the MRMRP .

Signing of Financial Agreement for the MRMR Port Development Project was held on the 30th October 2007, at the Temple Trees under the patronage of His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa, the  President Sri Lanka. The constructions commenced on the 15^th January 2008.

The feasibility study for the construction of Magam Ruhunupura Port was carried out by M/s. SNC Lavolis Canadian International Company and the basic designs were prepared by the Denmark Rambol Company in the year 2005.

Under Stage - I, of the project   the West Breakwater of 988 m, the East Breakwater of 312 m, a ships terminal of 600m, a service terminal          of 105 m, an oil terminal of 610 m, a ships turning circle of 600 m were constructed with a basin draught of 17 m, and a Port Access Canal that consists of a width of 210 m and a draught of 17m. The deepen land area in  stage I – was  43 ha. enabling to  facilitate 100,000 DWT capacity ships.

The construction of a Fuel Terminal at the Port was commenced on the 07th October 2009 by the Human Oil Engineering in China with a cost of US $ 76 million. Under the project 14 tank farms were being constructed with a  full capacity of 80,000 m3. Among   them,  08 tanks were dedicated for Ships oil while 03 for aircraft oil and another three for L.P.gas. Following successful construction of the tank farm fuel storage testing activities have been successfully completed at present. 

‘Karadiyawara Mangalyaya’ and Commissioning of the new port

As Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port (MRMRP) was developed as an environmentally, friendly Port from the initial stages, there had  not been any environmental issues which many development projects have to undergo.  The Garden Port concept which many countries have followed  was utilized to join the complex mechanism process and the environment, and in order to create a good mental status for an employee.

 With the completion of stage one of the project, 'Karadiyawara Mangalaya', the Sea water filling Ceremony of MRMRP took place on the 15th August 2010 under the supervision of the  Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama on the instructions of Hon. Chamal Rajapaksa the present Speaker and the M.P. for Hambantota District and under the guidance of His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Turning a new chapter in the country's socio-economic development, the first stage of Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port was commissioned by His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 18th November 2010 with the arrival of the vessel 'Jet-Liner' followed by a sailing ship and a cargo ship symbolizing  the commencement of commercial operations in the new port.

Following the commissioning,  the port  also received ISPS Certification as per the IMO recommendation and the UN Locator Code ‘LKHBA’ was also  allocated.

The   first container vessel for pilot maneuvering in  the port arrived on the 28th April 2011 and during the days several other container  vessels of different capacities and draughts and that belonged to reputed international shipping lines called  at the port for pilot maneuvering to assure safety entry and departure of mega  vessels at the   brand new port.  The pilot maneuvering process  further assured the eligibility of the entire port area for smoother vessel handling in and out of the port.

MRMRP becomes the best facility in Southern SL for mega local & foreign investment

The  project committee appointed for the consideration of the request of the investors who were interested for the investments in Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port  premises issued 63 applications locally and internationally and 27 investors submitted their proposals for the investments. More than 2000 hectares of lands adjoining the harbour were to be  declared as a special economic and industrial zone to boost industrial and commercial activities.  Out of the 27 investors who expressed interest to commence projects, six investors bid for cement industry while two had expressed for vehicle assembling and another two for gas. The Project Committee received proposals from three investors for warehousing, two for petro-chemicals and one each for sugar refinery, fertilizer and canning.

Cabinet of Ministers approved 7 investment proposals, subsequent to the recommendations by Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee with the assistance of the Technical Evaluation Committee. Accordingly, three investors namely, Thatta Cement Company (Pvt) Ltd ,Hambana Petrochemicals Ltd (HPL) and Lanka Sugar Refinery Company (Private) Limited have already commenced constructions following successful business venture agreements with SLPA.

Hayles Advantis Ltd (Fertilizer Bagging Plant), McLarnes Holdings Ltd (Warehousing), Agalawatta Plantation PLC (Warehousing) and ACE Distripaks (Pvt) Ltd (Warehousing) are among the other cabinet approved investors who have  expressed their confidence to commence business with MRMRP.

MRMRP starts RO-RO operations

As an effective measure to ease the long berthing delays experienced by Roll on Roll off vessels at the Port of Colombo, SLPA, with the consultation of shipping lines and importers decided to route all such vessels to the Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port and the first Ro-Ro vessel operation at the port was carried out on 06th June 2012. Commencement of RO-RO operations at  Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port expressed itself as a dedicated and reliable facility  for international maritime transportation in the region. This new move enabled to reduce congestion over Colombo, introducing a quicker clearance system with SL Customs where the document processing could  be done in either Hambantota or Colombo without any delay, and promote transshipment business with a dedicated automobile handling terminal facility in Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port.  As at 27.10.2013 the port has received 139 RO-RO vessels and has handled nearly  28,500 domestic units and more than 38,000 transshipment units.

All developmental activities at MRMRP are being successfully carried out with the supervision of Hon.Project Minister of Highways, Ports and Shipping Rohitha Abeygunawardena and instructions by Dr.Priyath B.Wickrama – the Chairman of SLPA.

Following the footsteps of ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ of His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka Ports Authority has been rightly directed at present, to maximize all the strengths and capacities to efficiently work towards the socio-economic development of Sri Lanka. Through the   accurate guidance by His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa the true leader of the nation, MRMRP at present,  is rapidly becoming the potential  to bring prosperity not only to the country but also to the whole region.

Hon.Project Minister of Highways, Ports and Shipping Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Hon. Project  Minister of Highways, Ports & Shipping, Hon. Nirmala Kothalawala, Hon.Chief Minister of Uva Province Shashendra Rajapaksa, Hon.Hambantota District Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa, His Excellency Wu Jianghao – The Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China,  Secretary of the Ministry of Highways,  Ports and Shipping -  Mr. R. W. R. Pemasiri, Chairman of SLPA – Dr.Priyath B.Wickrama,  Managing Director of SLPA – Capt.Nihal Keppetipola, Executive Director of SLPA – Dr.Sanjaya Sedara Senarath, Directors of SLPA, staff members of the higher management, executive officers and employees of SLPA, members of the trade unions of SLPA, officers of police and three forces and a large number of local and foreign distinguished guests also attended the opening ceremony of the new administrative complex of Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port.
(CPRD-11112013)