Our eight years shows more than 60 since independence: President

The contribution we have made towards rebuilding the country during the last eight years is unmatched even by the totality of work accomplished through the previous 60 years since independence,” President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

The President was speaking after inaugurating the US $500 million Colombo Port Expansion project and an International Container Terminal (South) yesterday. “Leaving behind the era of subjugation, Sri Lanka is fast emerging as an economic centre of strategic importance in the region by reviving and developing its ports,” the President said. The facilities at the new port will make it the only port in South Asia with a deep water terminal for mega container ships. The new breakwater has a depth of 18 metres, compared to the previous 14 to 15 metres, enabling it to handle bigger cargo ships that require deeper docking berths. The expansion allows the port to increase its capacity by at least 50 percent. Addressing ministers, ambassadors, High Commissioners, managers of several majorinternational shipping lines, business leaders and staff of the Colombo Port, President Rajapaksa said the era when the country’s development process remained stagnant was now over. Describing the new initiative, the President said it will enable the port of Colombo to enhance its recognition as a regional hub in navigation, with new facilities to provide services for the complete satisfaction of shipping lines. “In the past it took 37 years to build this harbour which had a breakwater of only 2.5 Km’s. Today we have built a breakwater nearly 7 Km’s in length, one of the biggest in the world which took only five years. The depth in the harbour has now been expanded to 18 metres. Even the biggest ship in the world can dock at this harbour now” the President added. While identifying the initiative as one of the largest investments in the country’s history, the President noted that with the expansion of the port facilities, the authorities are now looking forward to enhancing revenue up to Rs.100 billion in 2020 from the present Rs.40 billion. He also said further expansion in the area will see another 500 acres being added by reclaiming the sea for a state-of-the-art new city. This will expand the country’s existing land area and will eventually alter Sri Lanka’s map as well” he added. “The President recalled history reveals that even during ancient days Sri Lanka had important links with other countries courtesy its ports.The Port of Godawaya close to the South, Trincomalee, Dambakolapatuna and Lanka Patuna are etched in the historical records,” he noted. However, he pointed out that Sri Lanka could not reap the full potential of these ports for the country’s benefit due to the invasion of foreign forces. “All of this shows a great tradition where the ports of our land played a significant role in the commerce, trade and cultural development of our country and people. We are now rapidly reclaiming our position in the key navigation routes of the ocean around us with our investments in ports construction expansion and improvement” he added. The President said past experiences have taught a lesson to Sri Lanka to develop its economy which centred around its harbours, both to prevent it from sliding into a state of subjugation again and to lift the economy as one of the most stable in the region. He said this is why the government is developing and reviving harbours at several strategic locations in its coastal belt simultaneously, such as, the new Magampura Port at Hambantota, Galle, Trincomalee, Oluvil and Kankasanthurai in addition to Colombo. The President went on to say that not only harbours, but, both domestic and international Airports too were being developed to promote the country as the hub of trade and commercial activity in the region. Highlighting other developments, the President pointed out that the country has made rapid progress in all other sectors, such as, infrastructure, education, health. livelihood opportunities etc. President Rajapaksa said he was glad to recall that Sri Lanka has put behind its image as a centre of terrorism and become a centre of peace and development. “ A couple of days back, I went to open a factory in the North. I feel happy when I see youth who used to earlier bury land mines on roads going to school and work now on the same roads which are now carpeted” he added. “Today when foreign Ambassadors say that Sri Lanka is one of the fastest growing countries in Asia, I feel very proud” the President added. However, the President said that it was unfortunate to note that yet there were petty minded elements who want to find fault with whatever the government does and observed that the country’s development will be considered a wonder by patriotic minded people only. While stressing that the aim of all these development activities was for the well being of present and future generations, the President observed that a country or nation will not be rebuilt unless the fruits of development are inherited by the people. He also told the gathering that these initiatives are being enacted with long term goals in mind. The French container ‘Pegasus’ , the biggest ever vessel to arrive in Colombo anchored at the harbour last morning to mark the occasion.