He told local media that the port is a safe new harbor and he had no problems in navigating such a large vessel into the harbor.

Sierra Nevada Highway has sailed from Japan carrying 114 vehicles for local market and docked at the port on Saturday (17).

Another ship called Trans Leader that belonged to NYK Company has also arrived at the port on Saturday carrying 383 vehicles for transshipment.

A senior official of the Hambantota port said that 27 ships have arrived in the newly opened port in the past six months.