Hambantota Harbour
| Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port | |
|---|---|
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| Location | |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Location | Hambantota |
| Coordinates | 06°07′10″N 81°06′29″E / 6.11944°N 81.10806°ECoordinates: 06°07′10″N 81°06′29″E / 6.11944°N 81.10806°E |
| Details | |
| Opened | 18 November 2010 |
| Available berths | 3 |
| IATA | HBT |
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Website www |
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The Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port (also known as the Port of Hambantota) is a maritime port in Hambantota, Sri Lanka. The first phase of the port was opened on 18 November 2010, with the first ceremonial berthing of the naval ship "Jetliner" to use the port facilities. It is named after former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Hambantota Port is built inland and operated by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. Total estimated construction cost of the Phase 1 of the project is US $361 million and out of which, 85% has been funded by the EXIM Bank of the People's Republic of China.
Construction of the port began in January 2008. It will be Sri Lanka’s largest port, after the Port of Colombo. The Port of Hambantota will serve ships travelling along the east-west shipping route which passes six to ten nautical miles (19 km) south of Hambantota. The first phase of the port project will provide bunkering, ship repair, ship building, and crew change facilities. Later phases will raise capacity of the port up to 20 million TEUs per year. When completed, it is claimed it will be the biggest port constructed on land to date in the 21st century.
However the port incurred heavy losses making debt repayement an issue as a result in 2016 an 80% was leased to China Merchants Ports holding company in a debt-for-equity swap who will invest 1.12 Billion USD to revive the port under a Private-Public Partnership Under the agreement CMPorts will divest 20% of its shares to a Sri Lankan company within ten years. CMPort will have to spend at least US$ 700-800 million or more to bring the port to operational level.
Background
The inland harbour on the Walawe river and the sea harbour on the bay of Godavaya in Ambalantota Trade were an important component in the economy of ancient Sri Lanka, and Godavaya was an important maritime settlement, serving Tissamaharama and Ridiyagama in the kingdom of Ruhuna. This port was first known to be operational in the general area of Hambantota around 250 BCE, when Chinese and Arabian merchants used it as part of the maritime silk route. Around the 1st century CE, a furnace powered by monsoon winds was built near Embilipitiya, which used wind based air supply to produce high carbon steel. This steel was exported to Rome and other European areas for the manufacture of armor and swords, with ships sailing to a port in Hambantota to obtain steel.
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Wikipedia