Vehicles steam from carriers in Hambantota Port

Thursday, 7 June 2012 10:29 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Hambantota roars with ships – and cars too!

Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port (MRMRP) in Hambantota commenced its first commercial Ro-Ro consignment yesterday, with the first two Ro-Ro vessels M.V. Frisia and M.V. Asian Sun, calling at the brand new port.

Perhaps putting an end to criticism of it being a ‘white elephant,’ the one-and-a-half-year-old and $ 1.5 billion invested Hambantota Port finally saw the entry of not only ships but also cars as it welcomed the first two vehicle carriers. Deputy Minister of Ports Rohitha Abeygunawardhane, Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa, SLPA Chairman Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama and SLPA Executive Director Dr. Sanjaya Sedara Senarath were present to witness the milestone yesterday – Pix by Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP and Aloka I. De Silva

Frisia was the first to call at MRMRP with 15 new vehicles from Japan. The vessel was followed by Asian Sun from Chennai in India carrying nearly 1,000 vehicles for transhipment. The vehicles will be transhipped to Algeria from MRMRP by Asian Legend probably on 15 June 2012.

Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Chairman Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama stated that the brand new port was expected to handle one million vehicles annually within the first five years of Ro-Ro operations.

“This new initiative has offered the best solution to ease the long berthing delays experienced by Ro-Ro vessels at the Port of Colombo. In Colombo we had to undergo an average waiting time of nearly 10 days to offer berthing for these vessels. Besides the congestion in Colombo due to increasing volumes, dedicated facilities for Ro-Ro operations were often interrupted. Therefore, with fruitful discussions and consultation with shipping lines and importers SLPA reached the decision to route all such vessels to the Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port,” he said.

Dr. Wickrama also stated that with the emerging developments in the southern region of the country with brand new sea and airports, highways and other industries that are largely assisted through mega foreign investments, Hambantota is turning to be the industrial capital of the country.

“The strong leadership and guidance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa is rapidly converting Sri Lanka to be the most viable and competitive industrial and service hub in the region,” he added.

Deputy Minister of Ports and Highways Rohitha Abeygunawardhane, MP Namal Rajapaksa, Secretary of the Ministry of Ports and Highways Ranjith Premasiri, SLPA Managing Director Capt. Nihal Keppetipola, SLPA Executive Director Dr. Sanjaya Sedara Senarath, Harbour Master of SLPA – Capt. Ravi Jayawickrama, Chief Engineer (Southern Port Development) Agil Hewageegana, several distinguished politicians in the region, a number of invitees from the business community and shipping lines, executive staff members of the SLPA management and a large number of media personnel from print and electronic media were also present at the commencement of Ro-Ro operations at the Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port in Hambantota.