Export Processing Zone for Hambantota

The Government plans to set up a new Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in the Hambantota District of the deep south at a cost of Rs. 2.2 billion.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal put forward by the Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa to set up the new EPZ at Mirijjawila in close proximity to the second international airport in Mattala and the Hambantota Port. The Export Processing Zone will be set up in 228 hectares of Government land released by Government agencies in the Hambantota District.

The Board of Investment (BOI) will recover the cost of Rs. 2.2 billion as lease rental of individual blocks to be allocated to investors and for providing other services such as water, electricity, etc., the Government says.

The Government said it would favourably consider requests received already from investors to accommodate activities such as automobile assembly plants, construction-related manufacturing, logistics, bonded warehousing, manufacturing, etc.