🇱🇰 Strategic Proposal: Returning Hambantota Port’s Eastern Expansion to Sri Lankan Control

• Overview & Vision Call to transform Southern Sri Lanka’s logistics assets into a unified regional hub. Proposal advocates returning Hambantota Port's undeveloped Eastern Expansion to Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) control for competitive global tenders to boost national asset ownership. • Hambantota Port Performance • Operates under China Merchants Port Group (CMPort). • Container throughput surged 81.1% YoY to 326,000 TEUs in 1H 2026—CMPort’s fastest-growing overseas terminal. • Demonstrates strong potential for integrated logistics, bonded warehousing, and domestic cargo operations beyond basic transshipment. • Mattala Airport (MRIA) Momentum • Handled 150,000+ passengers and 700+ international flights in 2025. • Attracted 19 Expressions of Interest (EOIs) in 2026, showing rising commercial confidence. • Regional Maritime Competition • India’s automated Vizhinjam Port handled 1.57 Mn TEUs in its first year, expanding capacity to 5.7 Mn TEUs by 2029 to target Indian Ocean transshipment. • Underscores urgent necessity for Sri Lanka to invest in draft depth, automation, and expanding port infrastructure to retain maritime dominance.