By (Dholani Mawalage and Rebecca Fleming)

Southern Region Development Minister Ananda Kularatne yesterday said the feasibility reports for the Second International Harbour and the Airport at Hambantota have been approved.

Addressing a news conference on the progress and the achievement of Southern Region Development projects at the Information Department the minister said the relevant authorities had given approval after considering the economic and environmental factors of these projects and the feasibility report on the Oil Refinery project at Hambantota will be obtained before the end of this year.

Minister Kularatne referring to implementation of Airport project at Hambantota, Udawattala in Lunugamvehera electorate had been selected as the most suitable place.

“The first phase of the project was estimated around US $ 70 million which will include a runaway and a terminal and the whole project was estimated at US$ 1700 million,” he said.

The Minister referring to the international sea port at Hambantota said the feasibility studies had been carried by the Canadian company called Snclavallin Ltd and approval was given on the feasibility report and the Prime Minister and Ministers Rauff Hakeem and Milinda Moragoda are holding discussions on carrying out the second phase of the project.

He also said that a feasibility report is yet to be obtained from the Chinese Consortium before the end of this year where 1000 acres had been separated for implementation of Oil refinery in Hambantota, and to speed up the process of the project, the Southern Region Development ministry is coordinating with the Power and Energy ministry.

Minister Kularatne also noted that small scale and middle scale rural economy projects are being carried out in the districts of Ratnapura, Galle, Matara, Moneragala and Hambantota that come under the purview of the Southern Region Development ministry.

An Australian Brain Kahlefeldt who visited Sri Lanka for the eleventh time, who has expressed willingness to invest money for projects at this meeting said he will donate 100 computers to the Southern District schools.