Southern Development

The development thrust in Hambantota

Walter Liyanarachchi

During the past, a large number of people in Hambantota District sought settlement in other areas of the country, especially in urban areas where resources were in abundance. Not only the people in Hambantota but also Matara and Galle people too this episode is the same. Today there are thousands of Southerners living in other parts of the country and most are successful businessmen.

However, today this picture has changed. Not only people who left Hambantota but also people from other parts of the country are seeking residence in Hambantota or looking for business avenues.

Due to the mega on-going projects namely Hambantota Sea Port and Airport, Widened Highways, Lighting Sri Lanka Hambantota, Fishery Harbour, Irrigation, Housing, Hospitals, Schools and various other minor projects, Hambantota District is fast changing its gloomy picture.

In view of this future progress in the Hambantota District the population will swell with the landslide incoming people seeking resources and facilities. A survey in regard to the transformation that taking place in this district with this development background, the land demand has shot up manyfold.

Land prices up

A resident living close to this port project said that he wanted to sell his 33 perch land three years ago at the rate of Rs. 15,000 per perch. He said that due to this low income accruing then he had decided to invest the money to commence a small business close to Colombo by selling the land and the small house.

But fortunately due to the objections raised by his wife he had abandoned this idea. He said delightly the value of a perch in that area had gone up to Rs. 70,000 per perch and determinedly he said that when the first phase of this port construction is over in 2010 the value will be more. He also said that he has no idea of selling this land at any cost and is planning to commence an eating house instead. The resident engineers in Hambantota port said that constructing phase one was commenced in 2008 and is targeted to finish by 2010. The first ship is scheduled to enter the port in early part of 2011 and the construction of phase two and three will be decided no sooner the phase one is over, they said.

Asked ‘how many ships can be accommodated when all three phases are completed they happily noted that a fleet of 33 ships can be accommodated. There are two terminals. One is for service handling and the other one is for bunkering and garbage clearing, they said. The workers are now employed to work round the clock to expedite the work.

Revenue

The Chinese government is funding 85 percent of the total cost and the balance 15 percent by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

The engineers said that average 290 ships are sailing close to Hambantota seas and most of them are anchoring in Singapore and Indian ports for bunkering, garbage clearing and for maintenance purposes.

After completion of the project most of the ships are expected to anchor in Hambantota port since it is cost less for this ship owners to get fulfilled their requirements.

The length of the West breakwater dam is 988 meters and 318 meters the East dam.

At the completion of the first phase dredging will be done to make the depth of the sea upto 14 metres and at the completion of the project it will be increased upto 17 metres, the engineers said.

Asked whether there would be a water pollution and an environment change affecting the plantations in surrounding areas of the port, the engineers said that a strong concrete dam will be constructed around the port to prevent the incoming sea water to land seeping into the suburban areas. And also interlocking concrete blocks will be placed in the sea to protect the port from future disasters such as tsunami, tidal waves or rough seas, they said.

New rail track

A rail track is also planned to be built from the jetties to connect the proposed railway line from Matara to Kataragama. This connecting track will be used to transport goods up and down, the engineers said.

Engineers D. Sarathchandra, H.M.S. Priyantha, M.M.M.C. Bandara and Inoka Ranamukage detailed the project activities.

The irrigation sector is also developing in the district.

Irrigation

The second largest newly built reservoir in Sri Lanka Kekiri Oboda, constructed during the present regime is to be completed at the end of the year.

The on-going Kekiri Oboda Tank Project in Hambantota District when completed will wet 5,535 acres of paddy lands prospering 3,437 families scattered in a large number of villages.

The first being Veheragala Tank in Hambantota District which is now completed is providing water to a large number of farmer families and providing drinking water to Kataragama.

In the past during the August dry season there was no water even to perform the water cutting rituals.

But with the opening of the Veheragala tank sufficient water that had been restored in the tank was released to Menik Ganga facilitating the pilgrims for bathing and washing purposes and to perform religious rites, Irrigation Department Director General H.P.S. Somasiri said.

Lighting Sri Lanka Hambantota District Project Director, S.Bogahawatte said that supplying electricity to 40000 consumers as targetted could be fulfilled at the end of the year. Ranjit Gunasekera, Chairman, Southern Development Authority and A. Rajapakse, Director (Planning) Hambantota District Secretariat said that they are doing best in their respective fields to keep up the standard of Hambantota.

Administrative complex in Godagama

Hiran H. Senewiratne

Godagama area will be developed as the major administrative complex in the Matara district with the shifting of all Government offices out of Matara town to ease the congestion in the town, said Media Minister Luxman Yapa Abeyawardena.

At present major development projects are under way and Godagama area will be developed as the main administrative complex in the whole district. Many projects like hospitals, and government administrative offices will be setup shortly, he said.

He said the most important projects in Godamagam area are the on-going hospital project and the economic zone. The new hospital will have 700 beds. The economic zone will provide employment opportunities for many people in the area. These two projects will improve the living standards of the people in the area.

He said the Godagama hospital will be one of the best hospitals in the entire province, which is being constructed with an investment of Rs 1200 million. Part of the funds will be borne by Korea and the balance by the Government of Sri Lanka.

The Minister said that the Godagama Economic zone will be set up to promote trade and investment in the region.

The total investment for the construction of the zone will be Rs 3,024 million which will be developed in two phases. When the zone is established a cold room and a storage supplying centre will be set up to assist fishing and agriculture products in the area.

The significance of Godagama is that the Colombo- Matara highway is by-passing the area, which is expected to be completed in the year 2011. The total investment would be around Rs 19,000 million. Once the highway is completed the entire transportation system in the whole of the Southern Province will be revolutionised, he said.

Minister Abeyawardena said that the Southern Province railway transport too will be improved with additional and wide railway tracks that will be extended to Kataragama.

Matara-Beliatta rail track to commence shortly

The construction work of the first phase of the Matara-Kataragama railway line from Matara to Beliatta will commence shortly. China will fund this project. The length of the stretch from Matara to Beliatta is 27 km and estimated cost for the first phase is Rs. 6,000 million, the Ministry Transport revealed. According to Ministry sources, feasibility studies including geological investigations already been completed and the laying of the railway track will commence soon.

The government has planned to expedite the southern rail track up to Kataragama.