“As the port is not seeing much exploitation as of current, we have decided to bring into existence a strategy that will see future benefits to the country’s economic status,” SLPA Chairman Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama said.

SLPA records that the Hambantota Port has shown optimistic signs in terms of transshipment and the amount of fuel supply to foreign vessels. As of current, this year, the number of vessels that had come in to the port down south has increased from 137 vessels last year to 184 as of last week.

Vehicles transshipment has also shown a vast increase when compared to 2013, from 38,649 in 2013 to 101,883 in October 2014. The local import of vehicles though, has shown signs of a slight decrease when compared to last year but, an overall boost from the initial stages.

In 2012, imports were initially recorded at 6406 units, in 2013 25,875 units were imported and this year, by mid-week of October, 25,551 units were recorded.

The number of vehicles that were handled totally from the year 2012 to October 2014 was documented as 202,707 units out of which 29% were local and 71% were imported vehicles. The total number of vehicles that was being handled as of current, this year, was 446.

The month of October this year, as of current had recorded 5416 metric tons of fuel that was sold, with the month of September seeing the largest output of fuel being sold. With regard to the number of foreign vessel arrivals this month, a decrease has been recorded in comparison to the previous four months.

The Galle harbor is set to be a tourist port especially for yachts.(PRIU/KH)