High Commission of Sri Lanka in India

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority is inviting proposals from international firms or consortia to design, build, finance, manage and operate business ventures at the Port of Hambantota.

The construction works of the Phase 1 development of Hambantota Port Project is now nearing completion and this project has been designed to accommodate vessels of nearly 100,000 DWT with the depth of 16m. The Port will be created by the construction of new breakwaters and will be served by a channel with a depth of 17m and a width of 210m. The basin in the initial phase will be nearly 60 ha and will serve a quay length of 600m for general cargo activities and another quay of 610m for gas and oil. The basin will be dredged to -17m with provisions to deepen it to -21m should new generation of deep drafted vessels come into operation.

Interested parties may inspect the RFP document, free of charge, at the address given below on normal working days between 10.00-16.00 hrs. Bidders may also obtain additional information or seek clarification in writing.

The RFP document can be obtained from the office of Chief Engineer (Southern Port Development) during 10.00-14.00 hrs of any working day from 17 August-28 September 2010 upon payment of a non-refundable fee of Sri Lanka Rupees 50,000 and applicable VAT. 

The completed proposals shall be delivered to the address given below on or before 14.00 hrs on 30 September 2010. The envelopes containing Experience and Technical Proposal will be opened immediately afterwards in the presence of the bidders' representatives who choose to attend. Late bids will be rejected.

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority will not be responsible for any costs or expenses incurred by the bidders in connection with the preparation or delivery of proposals including costs and expenses related to site visits.

Presiding over a well attended Road Show held in New Delhi today (25 August 2010) Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa invited Indian entrepreneurs to invest in tourism related infrastructure development to cater to the 2.5 million tourists, a target expected to be achieved in the next few years. A large gathering of tour operators and potential investors participated at the Road Show titled ‘Sri Lanka as a Destination for Tourism and Investment in its Infrastructure’.

High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam, the Sri Lankan Envoy to India making the welcome remarks, referred to the historical civilisational bonds between the two nations. Sri Lanka is like a relative to India and he invited more Indians to visit their relatives in Sri Lanka more often. With regard to investment, he urged the Indian investors to make use of the very good investment opportunities with a view to create a win-win situation where the two nations could grow economically in tandem.

Dr Nalaka Godahewa, Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau making a presentation on Sri Lanka as an excellent destination for tourists and investment, said that the number of annual tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka which is about 500,000 has remained same for the last three decades. The Government is now aiming at attracting 2.5 million tourist arrivals per year in the next few years. Since Sri Lanka has not invested in tourism infrastructure for many years, there is a need for more hotels, particularly in the Eastern province. In the past, Indians have been key investors in tourism infrastructure in Sri Lanka and he hoped that more investors from India would come forward to make use of the opportunities available.

High Commissioner H.E. Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam called on the Hon. Speaker of the Lok Sabha Smt. Meira Kumar in Parliament House on 20 August 2010.

Sri Lanka and India exchanged Notes to establish two Indian Consulate General offices in Jaffna and in Hambantota on 20th August 2010 at the Ministry of External Affairs. The proposed Consulate General of India in Jaffna will cover the five districts of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, namely, Jaffna, Killinochchi, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya and Mannar. The proposed Consulate General of India in Hambantota would cover the districts of Galle, Matara, Hambantota and Moneragala.

The Notes were signed by the External Affairs Ministry Secretary C.R.Jayasinghe on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, and the Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Ashok K. Kantha on behalf of the Government of the Republic of India.

Secretary Jayasinghe stated that the opening of the two Indian Consulate offices will further strengthen the close and cordial relations between Sri Lanka and India. He further said that the people to people contact is important for the two countries and will further enhance bilateral relations. He also thanked India for the assistance provided to Sri Lanka.

High Commissioner Kantha, appreciating the support extended by the Government of Sri Lanka said that Sri Lanka is an important country with which India has continued to have historical contacts. The opening of the two new Consulates in Sri Lanka will further expand India’s partnership with Sri Lanka and that he looked forward to working closely with the Sri Lankan authorities.