Sri Lanka opens China-funded Hambantota seaport

Colombo, Aug.16 (ANI): Sri Lanka has opened a new seaport in southern Hambantota, which has been built with Chinese assistance as part of a six billion dollar drive to rebuild infrastructure after the war.

The port has four terminals, two for cargo and two for fuel bunkering.

A second, equally big, phase is being built, the BBC reports.he government hopes the port will get business from some of the 70,000 ships that cross the Indian Ocean each year.

The first ships will arrive in November.

Sea water was released into the new port by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, breaching the remaining piece of land separating the site from the Indian Ocean.

About a metre's depth of seawater will flow in each day for nearly three weeks.

"It is not sea water that will fill this port, but the future prosperity of our nation. From this China is now the biggest lender to Sri Lanka - it is also funding a large coal power station, roads and railways, and an airport near the new seaport. (ANI)