English.news.cn 2011-12-06 15:01:15

COLOMBO, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) — A 7.4 million U.S. dollars fertiliser plant is being started at an economic zone in southern Sri Lanka that is centered around a 361 million U.S. dollars China- funded harbor, an official said here Monday.

The latest investment in the economic zone of Hambantota comes from the Hayleys Group, a local conglomerate, and is partly funded by the Hong Kong-based Dragon Asia Fertiliser Ltd, said Priyath Bandu Wickrama, chairman of the Sri Lankan Ports Authority.

An Indian sugar company, a Singaporean petro-chemical plant and a Pakistani cement grinding factory are the other projects that are going to be started in Hambantota soon, said Wickrama.

He said the entry of Singapore, India and Pakistan is expected to boost foreign direct investment in Sri Lanka, bringing it closer to the all-time high target of one billion U.S. dollars earmarked by the government for 2011.

Hambantota, the hometown of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, is to undergo a major transformation in order to make it a strategic hub for economic development and tourism, according to a plan outlined by the Sri Lankan government.

The government said the sea port once completed by 2014 will make Hambantota the heart of the global shipping network.

Meanwhile, an international airport is under construction in Hambantota and scheduled to open in 2012.

Editor: Chen Zhi

Related News

Sri Lanka raises foreign holdings on treasury bonds to cash in on Eurozone crisis

Sri Lanka elected to UN Industrial Development Board

Sri Lanka’s crisis-ridden main opposition leadership to be challenged

Sri Lanka issues "Red Alert" as dengue spreads

Sri Lanka gov’t price control may hurt pharmaceutical industry investment: official