The government has decided to gift a large plot of land in Hambantota to China Harbor Engineering that lent monies for development projects in Hambantota. The land is to be given to build a hotel.

China Harbor Engineering is affiliated to the Chinese government and its local agent is Sumal Perera’s Access Company. The projects were handed over to Sumal Perera by Basil Rajapaksa when he served as a Presidential Advisor. Political circles were abuzz with the rumor that Basil Rajapaksa had been paid a 10 percent commission for the projects.

However, China Harbor has given loans amounting to billions of dollars for the Hambantota Port project, Southern expressway, Mattala Airport and the Kaduwela-Kottawa accelerated urban development programmes.

Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s deputy, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena recently said that China Harbor would be allocated a land between the Hambantota Port and the Mattala Airport for a development programme due to the loans given by them.

Therefore, China Harbor would get the opportunity of building luxury housing, shopping and hotel complexes. The company is expected to invest US$ 750 million and the ownership of the project is to be handed over to the company.