Minister Abeygunawardena responding to a question raised by UNP Colombo District MP Sujeewa Senasinghe said it was expected that the Hambantota Port would earn an income of Rs 15,000 millions by the end of this year.

He said that transshipment of 70,985 vehicles had helped the Port earn Rs 1,212 millions from January to end of July this year. The Hambantota port had turned out to be the favourite port among the vehicle importers but no there was no intention of stopping importing vehicles from the Colombo Port, the minister said adding, anyone who prefer to make use of the facilities available in the Colomobo Port to bring down vehicles from abroad had the opportunity to do so. (Special Reporter/HC)