(UTV | COLOMBO) – The new cement factory, one of the top 20 largest cement factories in the world built across 63 acres of land within the Mirijjawila Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Hambantota, was declared open today.
The opening ceremony was held under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa this morning.
Accordingly, the Hambantota factory will become the seventh local cement factory registered with the Ministry of Industries.
The foundation stone for the new oil refinery and cement factory in the Mirijjawila EPZ was laid during the tenure of the previous good governance government.
It is estimated that the new cement plant will produce 2.4 million MT of cement annually.
Meanwhile, a steel manufacturing factory will be constructed in a 250 acre land area within the Processing Zone at a cost of USD 400 million.
Production work at the factory will commence at the end of 2024.
An annual production of 4MT million is expected at the factory with 2.8MT million to be issued to the local market under the first phase.
Addressing the event, Minister Chamal Rajapaksa said in the past the Hambantota District was considered a dry zone that didn’t have sufficient water.
He added it was former President Mahinda Rajapaksa who sought to see a change.
Minister Rajapaksa said the former administration led by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa looked into resources in the Hambantota district, made plans accordingly and took steps to implement them.
The Minister added the largest cement factory built today is the result of such planning.
Minister Chamal Rajapaksa said the former administration took steps to provide fuel to a large number of ships daily after the Hambantota Harbour was built in 2015.
The Minister stated however after the 8th of January in 2015 ships didn’t dock at the harbour to obtain fuel.