Several ministers including Dr Sarath Amunugama and S M Chandrasena and Ms Nirupama Rajapaksa were present on the occasion.

This is a large scale investment project granted from the Chinese Government as a direct and immediate response to the President Mahinda Rajapaksa's request made during the state visit to china recently.

The President Rajapaksa has instructed the deputy chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority Mr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama to commence the construction of this project by June this year.

The total estimated cost for the construction work for this massive project is US $ 360 million and the Chinese government will fund 85% out of the total cost. The construction work of this project will commence within a period of three months.

By now the environmental impact assessment with regard to the construction work of the harbour and the progress report has been submitted to the Government by the Rambol institute

Once the construction work of the port is completed it can produce 6000 direct employment and 50,000 indirect employment opportunities while developing Hambanthota area.

Government has taken the necessary steps to provide suitable residencies for the families who live in the areas where the project construction will take place.

During the first phase of the project, an industrial port with a 300m jetty and a dedicated oil terminal will be constructed at Hambantota and it will be expanded to a container handling port during the next two stages to handle 20 million containers per year.

The first phase of the project is expected to be completed within the next three years and the whole project is expected to be completed within 15 years.