The Government will start fuel bunkering at the Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port popularly known as Hambantota Port in June this year.

Ports Development Deputy Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardene said that the construction work on fuel bunkering terminal with a capacity of 82,000 metric tonnes at the new Hambantota port will be completed in May. The Port, which is seen as a bunkering centre, located at a strategic point will attract ocean-going vessels on the East-West shipping route.

The Deputy Minster said that the Sri Lanka Ports Authority will handle the oil bunkering which would be the one area that is not open to foreign investors.

However, other services including bulk cargo handling, storage facilities, warehouses, transshipment are open to foreign investments. “Our target is to reach four million tonnes storage with bulk transshipments,” he said.

He said that the bunker business is an important way of earning money required to repay the Chinese loans.

The Hambantota Port, which is Sri Lanka’s second largest harbour was constructed in line with President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s aim of making Sri Lanka the Miracle of Asia.
(CPRD-28032011)