Oluvil Harbour nearing completion

Construction activities of the Oluvil Harbour which cost Rs 7,000 million are nearing completion, according to Government Information Department.

The Oluvil Harbour construction project commenced on June 20, 2008 in line with the Government’s initiatives to set up a modern port system in the country. Under this project, many ports are being constructed throughout the coastal belt, said the Deputy Minister of Ports and Highways Rohitha Abeygunawardena.

The Oluvil Port is among the ports being constructed aiming to get the maximum contribution from the port system. This includes sea transportation to assist the development of the country. Besides, the Oluvil Port will play a significant role in the agriculture and fisheries industry in the Eastern Province, Deputy Minister said. The Oluvil Harbour will be commissioned by October,” he added.

The Oluvil Port consists of two sections - commercial harbour and the small craft harbour (fisheries harbour). The commercial harbour is 8 metres in depth while the fisheries harbour is three metres in depth.

The commercial harbour comes with all other harbour related institutions and buildings such as warehouses, Police station, generator and transformer building, communication centres, fuel storages while the Fisheries Harbour consists of ice plants, cold room facilities, storage facilities for fishing equipment and many more. A light house for Oluvil Harbour has also been constructed for the benefit of both commercial and fishing craft. The commercial harbour would have enough depth to handle ships up to 5,000 metric tonnes and the fisheries Harbour could hold more than 250 fishing boats simultaneously.