The Hambantota International Port (HIP) which has undergone drastic positive changes compared to 2017 plays a critical role in Sri Lanka’s economic development, said Chairman, Sri Lanka Shippers’ Council, Sean van Dort during a visit of its executive committee to the HIP last week.
“We have no hesitation in recommending this beautiful facility that only has the potential to grow and be a diamond in the crown of Sri Lanka,” he said.
The visit centred around inspecting HIP’s current facilities and discussions on future plans, with the port’s management team, who briefed the Council on upcoming developments and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
During the discussions, the Council delegates inquired about additional shipping lines calling at HIP and the prospect of establishing a feeder service from Hambantota to Colombo. HIP officials indicated that while negotiations are ongoing with shipping lines, current trade volumes did not yet warrant a dedicated feeder service.
Sri Lanka Shippers Council member Chullante Jayasuriya said, “This is my second official visit.
The first one was in 2016 when we were here for the 50th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Shippers Council, and what I saw today was the remarkable development and progress that the port has achieved in a mere span of eight years, and it all goes very well for the future of the country and for the future of the economy of the country.
“We had three very impressive presentations by the port’s senior management of their future plans.
I have every hope that these plans will come to fruition and that we will have a second international-class port in the south of the country,” he said.
A key point they raised at the discussion was the need for improved connectivity, suggesting a rail line between Hambantota and Colombo to ease transportation costs and congestion, particularly when Colombo Port is at full capacity.
Deputy General Manager HIP, Bindu Ranasinghe, said that rail infrastructure was outside HIP’s current scope. However, he informed the council that the port was actively engaged in exploring cost-effective transport alternatives to benefit the country’s shippers and consignees. On their 2016 visit to HIP, to mark the new Shippers Council’s 50th anniversary, they had planted 50 king coconut and cashew plants at the port.
This time too council members planted king coconut trees to commemorate their visit and support HIP’s green initiatives.
The latest visit to HIP by the Sri Lanka Shippers Council further affirms the support extended to the port. It is also an acknowledgement of the pivotal role HIP plays in strengthening Sri Lanka’s position in the global trade network and its evolution into a world-class hub in the southern region of the island.
