Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe adressing the gathering at the Mirijjawila Export Processing Zone in Hambantota after the inauguration of construction work of the US$ 3.85 billion oil refinery project and the cement manufacturing plant, said that the implementation of these two projects usher in a new dawn for Hambantota and the surrounding districts.

The Prime Minister said the Hambantota oil refinery will boost a barely operated port that has piled debt on the country.
He further said that an extent of 200 acres has been allocated for these projects at the Mirijjawila Export Processing Zone. The new oil refinery complex is the first to be set up after 1968 and is a one hundred percent foreign investment project from Singapore and the Sultanate of Oman’s Ministry of Oil and Gas.
These USD 3.85 billion investmrents will create thousands of job opportunities in the Hambantota district and in surrounding districts.’
The Prime minster further said that these two projects are two mega investment projects that could be considered legacies and assets for the citizens of Hambantota. He said that we have a sea port without ships an air port without planes at Mattala, an international playground without cricket and an international convention hall without conventions.
“These are white elephants vested with us by the previous regime and we will make them tame elephants and money spinners,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minster said that this was the first time that an oil refinery will be set up in the country after the Sapugadskanda Oil Refinery in 1967.
He said that when they inaugarated the Mirijjawila Industrial Zone in Hambantota, they were pelted stones and protest campaigns were staged by the Rajapaksa clan. He said within another three months foreign investment will come to Hambantota in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Authority.When this happens,the stores complex at the Mattala Airport will no longer have to be used for paddy storage purposes.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said Hambantota will be converted to an international investment hub very soon with a host of investments flowing in. Tourism will be developed extensively with Minister John Amaratunga playing a key role. In addition, the fisheries industry will be given a boost.
Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said that this was a land mark event parallel to the birthday of Prime Minster Ranil Wickremesinhe.
Oman’s Minister of Oil and Gas Mohammed bin Hamad Al Rumhi, Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China in Sri Lanka Cheng Xueyuan, Development Strategies, International Trade, Science, Technology and Research Malik Samarawickrama, Deputy Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Nalin Bandara, Housing Construction and Cultural Affairs Sajith Premadasa and a number of Ministers and Parliamentarians were present for the occasion.