With the timely leadership and initiative of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa and guidance of Minister of Port, Aviation, Irrigation and Water Management Chamal Rajapaksa, construction work of Oluvil Port Project commenced recently in Oluvil.

The Project which had been limited only to discussions for a long period of time is thus commenced offering priority to the Oluvil Port Development via "Nagenahira Nawodaya" launched to expedite development in the Eastern region of the country.

Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and the Denmark contractors signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the construction of Oluvil Port Project.

Denmark construction company, namely MT Hojgaard deal with the construction work while the Denmark Government provides financial assistance. The Project worth Euro Million 46.1 is scheduled to be completed within 27 months.

The South Eastern Region of Sri Lanka comprising the districts of Ampara, Batticaloa and Moneragala is comparatively less developed compare to the other Western Regions due to the lack of infrastructure facilities mainly the poor highway access and the absence of a railway link.

The Government of Sri Lanka, in its plan to give impetus to economic development in this area, has decided to build a port at a site in Oluvil.

The proposed Oluvil Port Development Plan comprises the construction of a commercial port and a basin for fishing crafts. The Port will be located at Oluvil on the east coast of Sri Lanka, 8 km North of Akkaraipatthu and 17 km South of Kalmunai.

The total project comprises two stages. Two rubble mound break water, the Northern Breakwater of length of 475m and the Southern Breakwater of 740m would enclose a total water of around 16ha for the first stage.

Around 10ha of the water area would be used for the commercial harbour activities and balanced area would be used for fisheries activities. In stage 01, the basin of the commercial harbour would be dredged to 8m LWOST to cater for 5000 DWT vessels and facilities will also be constructed for fisher crafts, and also to supply water and fuel.

During the second stage of the project the basin will be dredged up to 11m LWOST to cater for 16000 DWT vessels and is expected to expand the water area up to 24 ha.

The main objective of the project is to develop a harbour with shore facilities to cater to general cargo vessels required to supply the current needs of the area, including costal passenger transport, with provision for expansion into a bigger harbour in the future. The harbour would also cater to the requirement of the current and projected fishing activities and its shore-based services and industries.

The port will also, help to increase the employment opportunities by 2010 providing about 1000 direct and indirect employment. People in the region will also be benefited by the introduction of industries such as cement, sugar and fertilizer related to the Oluvil Port, and also by granting a value added market for the regional industries in the East.
(DN 08052008)