The newly constructed Magampura Harbour, which lies within 10 nautical miles from a major Indian Ocean shipping route, will be a significant port for the East-West shipping trade, Ports and Aviation Deputy Minister Dayasritha Tissera said.

The Harbour project in addition, will create direct and indirect employment opportunities for 25,000 people, the Deputy Minister told Sri Lankan Broadcasting Service.

With the commissioning of the port, three ships will berth the port on November 18, he said adding the government plans to attract more investors into the area. Under this plan, a surrounding area of 2,000 hectares will be developed as an investment and industrial zone and in parallel the roads network in Hambantota area will also be upgraded. Already 65 investors have expressed interest, he said.

Along with the Magampura Port, the government has taken measures to develop other major ports in the country as well.

Ports in Galle, Oluvil, Trincomalee, and Kankasanthurai are now being expanded, the Minister said.

In addition, the government has embarked on an ambitious plan to expand the Colombo Harbor. The government expects to triple the operations at Colombo port by 2012.

The Colombo Port Expansion Project allows Sri Lanka to meet increasing demands of services in the international shipping industry in the Indian Ocean.