The Sri Lankan government has commenced development of ports not only in the western and southern parts of the country but also in the Eastern and Northern Provinces as well where terrorism prevailed for nearly three decades. The government’s commitment to spread development to the entire nation and bring better lives to all communities is evident through these port development projects in the North and East.

Trincomalee Port

Trincomalee harbour is the fifth largest natural harbour in the world and the available water and land area is about ten times as much as the Port of Colombo.

Trincomalee was tentatively identified to cater for bulk and break bulk cargo and port related industrial activities including heavy industries, tourism and agriculture etc.

At present Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) is in the process of developing Trincomalee as a metropolis growth centre. SLPA has completed a zoning plan to utilize the huge amount of existing unutilized land under its jurisdiction on the outcome of the analysis with other sectors of development, such as UDA, BOI, and Tourist Board etc. SLPA has advertised locally and internationally for proposals from potential investors for the Industrial Park and Tourism Zone in the Trincomalee Ocean City.

Port of Oluvil

Under the “Nagenahira Navodaya” Programme which was launched to expedite the development activities in the region, high priority is given to the development of the Port of Oluvil which is significant to the growth of the Eastern Region of Sri Lanka.

This port will form the South Eastern link in the developing chain of coastal harbours in the country and will provide more convenient and cost effective access to and from the South Eastern region for goods and cargo originating on the west coast.

The proposed project comprises the construction of a commercial harbour and a basin for fishing craft and covers a land area of 60ha in the first stage and 105 ha in the second stage. The harbour basin would cover an area of 16ha of the sea and would spread 1.2km along the coast line.

The acquisition and purchasing of lands for the project is completed. Compensation payments to 806 beneficiaries have already been made.

Permanent Building constructions, such as administration buildings, Fishery Harbour activity buildings etc. are in progress while internal roads and access road constructions are continuing.

Project construction commended on 01st July 2008 and is scheduled to be completed on 30th September 2010.

Meanwhile the constructions of Kankasanthurai and Point Pedro Ports are also in progress as part of port development projects.

Hence, Sri Lanka’s economy is expected to further improve once these ports are in operation. Such development projects have created immense employment opportunities and the entire surrounding areas are expected to develop in the future. The end to three decades of terrorism has brought new hope to Sri Lanka with development activities speedily underway. Sri Lanka is now on an ambitious path not thought possible a few years ago when terrorism was at its heights. Soon all Sri Lankans will have equal benefit from the many development activities that the government has now committed itself to.