Oluvil Port sinks millions of rupees
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- Created On Sunday, 28 July 2013 05:36
- Category: General
The Oluvil Port Project in the Eastern Province has become yet another white elephant where development projects are concerned. It is now the second largest pool in the country next to the Magampura Rajapaksa Port in Hambantota.
The Oluvil port that has been in the making for many years is to be ‘opened’ next month.
Interestingly, this project has cost the country’s tax payers a colossal amount of money amounting to Euro 46.1 million and only ships carrying cargo up to 10,000 tons can enter the port.
Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) employees have questioned the feasibility of constructing a port at 46.1 million Euro if ships cannot call at the port.
Trade unionists attached to the ports sector say that the SLPA instead could have installed a jetty off Oluvil shores and got the small ships to unload the cargo.
It is also learnt that although final plans have now been drawn for the opening, a customs office will not be established in the port till the port is declared open.
“If there wouldn’t be a Customs office in the port, that alone is a clear indication that foreign vessels would not come to the country. In that backdrop, this would be a domestic port. There is no need for a domestic port in a country like ours. The government should give an explanation to the people as to why they went ahead with this project knowing that it is a total flop,” Secretary of the All Ceylon General Ports Authority Employees Union, Chandrasiri Mahagamage has said.
However, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Dr Priyath Bandu Wickrema has said that Oluvil would be an international port with all the required facilities provided although it is a small port like the Galle harbour.
“Only vessels that carry cargo up to 10,000 tons can enter the port. We will not handle container ships,” said Dr Wickrema.
Accusing the government of unnecessary wastage of public money for a project that can be called a ‘white elephant’ Mahagamage has said that port employees are eagerly waiting to see how the opening ceremony of the Oluvil port is going to take place.
“We want to see how operational work is going to start once the port is opened. Like the Magampura Port in Hambantota, there would be only a few security guards in the port after the ceremonial opening but no ships other than fishing boats,” Mahagamage charged.
The Oluvil port project was a gift to former minister M. H. M. Ashroff in appreciation of his support to the then President Chandrika Kumaranatunge to form a government in 1994.
In order to extend his support to Kumaranatunge, Ashroff demanded a port in Oluvil and the Ports portfolio to which the President agreed. This was initiated in mid 1990s but the work is still going on without any progress while loan monies are being spent lavishly.
After Ashroff, the present regime had promised to develop the stalled Oluvil project as an international harbour to please the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leaders.
However, some development work was carried out in the port whenever there is an election in the east. Therefore, Oluvil is called an ‘election port’.
Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) employees have questioned the feasibility of constructing a port at 46.1 million Euro if ships cannot call at the port.
Trade unionists attached to the ports sector say that the SLPA instead could have installed a jetty off Oluvil shores and got the small ships to unload the cargo.
It is also learnt that although final plans have now been drawn for the opening, a customs office will not be established in the port till the port is declared open.
“If there wouldn’t be a Customs office in the port, that alone is a clear indication that foreign vessels would not come to the country. In that backdrop, this would be a domestic port. There is no need for a domestic port in a country like ours. The government should give an explanation to the people as to why they went ahead with this project knowing that it is a total flop,” Secretary of the All Ceylon General Ports Authority Employees Union, Chandrasiri Mahagamage has said.
However, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Dr Priyath Bandu Wickrema has said that Oluvil would be an international port with all the required facilities provided although it is a small port like the Galle harbour.
“Only vessels that carry cargo up to 10,000 tons can enter the port. We will not handle container ships,” said Dr Wickrema.
Accusing the government of unnecessary wastage of public money for a project that can be called a ‘white elephant’ Mahagamage has said that port employees are eagerly waiting to see how the opening ceremony of the Oluvil port is going to take place.
“We want to see how operational work is going to start once the port is opened. Like the Magampura Port in Hambantota, there would be only a few security guards in the port after the ceremonial opening but no ships other than fishing boats,” Mahagamage charged.
The Oluvil port project was a gift to former minister M. H. M. Ashroff in appreciation of his support to the then President Chandrika Kumaranatunge to form a government in 1994.
In order to extend his support to Kumaranatunge, Ashroff demanded a port in Oluvil and the Ports portfolio to which the President agreed. This was initiated in mid 1990s but the work is still going on without any progress while loan monies are being spent lavishly.
After Ashroff, the present regime had promised to develop the stalled Oluvil project as an international harbour to please the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leaders.
However, some development work was carried out in the port whenever there is an election in the east. Therefore, Oluvil is called an ‘election port’.
