It has been revealed that the Sri Lanka Ports Authority owns 15% of the total shares of Hambantota Port and the government has not received any dividend as there has been no profit in Hambantota Port. Sri Lanka Latest News
Due to the Covid crisis and the recent economic recession in Sri Lanka, Hambantota Port has not been able to increase its income and generate profits. Therefore, the attention of the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Services, Mr. Nimal Siripala de Silva, has been focused on starting several revenue-generating programs, and a special discussion will be held on those plans. Held at the ministry last day (11).
The Chief Executive Officer of Hambantota Port pointed out in this discussion that several problems with the Central Bank and the Board of Investment should be resolved in the implementation of a new development program at Hambantota Port and the Minister said that the Ministry of Ports would intervene to resolve these issues quickly.
The minister expressed confidence that until now, the main operations of Hambantota port were parking imported vehicles at the port and re-exporting them, and if the re-export of containers is started in the future, the port will be able to make a profit.
Therefore, the Minister said that the proposals and future programs presented by the governing authority to make Hambantota a profitable port will be submitted to the Board of Directors and forwarded to the Ministry and if necessary, the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers will be taken.
At the end of this discussion, the minister said that an active program should be developed together with the Sri Lanka Port Authority and the Hambantota Municipality to attract more and more ships sailing in the Indian Ocean to Hambantota and Colombo ports.
On this occasion, the secretary of the ministry K. D.S. Ruwanchandra, Port Authority Chairman Keith Bernard, Vice Chairman Gayan Alagewatta, Chief Executive Officer of Hambantota Port Ravindra Jayawickrama and a group of officials participated.
