Hambantota: Your next investment location

BY SRIMAL Fernando

HAMBANTOTA district located 240 km south east of Colombo consists of 2,622 sq. km land area representing six per cent of the country's land mass.

The district with economic growth of five per cent sustained by vibrant private sector activity has been strategic trading location between the Middle East and Far East.

Hambantota offers abundant human and natural resources at a competitive cost. Beautiful coastlines and wildlife parks with a literacy rate at 89 per cent are considered to be the greatest asset in the region.

An excellent business framework backed by the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC) gives new impetus and dimension to the district's investment climate.

Hambantota offers the most business friendly environment in Sri Lanka. Total foreign ownership is welcome in most areas of the economy.

The private sector plays a vital role in traditional areas of public investment such as transport, energy and telecommunication.

The burgeoning high end apparel industry based at Mirijawilla Export Processing Zone yields many opportunities for investment in backward and forward linkage technology, and the tourism and leisure sector enjoys an accelerated development program after the tsunami.

Culture, art and craft

People of the district indulges themselves in some form of art such as dancing, music or painting. Kataragama, a favourite pilgrim location visited by Sri Lankans irrespective of their religions is an important destination to foster reconciliation for peace.

Tourism

Hambantota, a tropical land of legendary beauty is encircled by sun drenched beaches, multi-coloured corals, shelter bays, serene lagoons and offshore islands enhance the beaches, offering enchanting beauty.

Tangalle, Polhena, Great and Little Bases on the south and south east coast offers excellent underwater coral exploration sites.

Geographic diversity gives Hambantota a rich wildlife resource. Yala and Bundala national parks located in the south east edge of the district are two conserved wildlife parks.

Agriculture in the Hambantota district is the largest sector accounting 40 per cent of the Gross Domestic Production (GDP). A land with 648,160 acres with 7,360 lakes and reservoirs is a perfect location for the agro-based industry.

Agriculture

Paddy, coconut, cinnamon, are the main agro based industries in the area. 74,547 acres of paddy and 61,302 acres of coconut are grown in the Hambantota district.

Governments from time to time have introduced a range of incentives to enable farmers to boost production and increase output by allowing foreign direct investment in the agriculture sector.

Hambantota has the basic attributes for successful agro based industries, namely rich alluvial soil, an adequate water supply and abundance of cheap labour. The district has divided agro industry into food crops, cash crops, long-term crops, vegetables and fruits.

Mechanisation of agriculture has played an important role in increasing the agro production. Progressive agriculture practice improving marketing technique and modern processing facilities would enable the agro processing industry to improve its quality to expand production levels significantly.

Hambantota district is the leading area in the Southern Province in the production of milk.

Daily 13,407 litres and 10,871 litres of milk respectively are produced from cattle and buffaloes. Buffalo milk is used for the production of curd and cows milk is used for the production in the milk powder and sterilised milk.

Fisheries

Poultry is another sector which is improving its quality and production in the district.

The new strategy of the government will envisage improving the performance of the animal husbandry sector by high growth rate, self-reliance and sustainable live stock growth.

The district consists of 13,892 fisher folk community. The fishery industry playing a major role in the district has an annual catch of 20,000 tons. Tangalle and Kirinda are the major fishing ports.

Fresh water fisheries is carried out in 21 perennial and 460 seasonal tanks. The fisheries policy being steered towards increasing fish production with modern cold store facilities would enable the fish processing sector in the district improve its quality.

Housing

A wide range of housing and accommodation is available in the district to suit different lifestyles. Around 150,000 housing units are present in the Hambantota region.

Hambantota should be your next place of investment welcomed by the hospitality of the smiling people and timeless enchantment of the land of legends and ancient irrigation systems.

(The writer is a Consultant of International Alert, Hambantota)