 of 2014, the number of vehicles handled at Hambantota crossed the 100,000 mark, up more than 300% compared to the same period in 2013, with the number of ship calls more than doubling to 161. The biggest user of the port is the Hyundai plant near Chennai while Tata and Maruti vehicles also come from Mumbai. In future, all Hyundai vehicles made in South Korea, China and India will be transshipped through Hambantota 15,000 units a month once more yard space is available.

In April 2017, making a historic landmark in Sri Lanka, the world's largest pure car and truck carrier (PCTC), the MV Hoegh Trigger, arrived on her maiden call at the Port of Hambantota.

Incidents
In December 2016, a mob of workers who were believed to be backed by Rajapaksa loyalists vandalised the port and took several ships hostage. The 13-storey building which was taken over by the strikers was flooded, and CCTV systems and electricity shut down. However swift action by Navy rescued the ships and began repairing damaged infrastructure thus reducing the damage. The Rajapaksa involvement was further proven by Rajapaksa loyalists' support of the strikers and wearing of black bands in support; in addition many of the leaders of the strike well as a protest against the SEZ that happened in Hambantota alongside the strike was led by members of the Nil Balakaya, an organization created by Namal Rajapaksa. As a result, a shipping line also sent a bill of $400000 as damages to the ports authority. The said workers were politically appointed by Nil Balakaya during the Rajapaksa regime and lacks legal documents to validate their employment However the government and Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne has come under extreme criticism from Civil activists and media movements over an assault on a journalist during this protest in Hambantota port.

Lease to China
On July 28, 2017, Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe announced that lease would be signed the next day and on July 29, 2017, Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and China Merchant Port Holdings signed an agreement on the Hambantota Port to lease the port to China Merchant Port Holdings  for 99 years. The government of Sri Lanka kept the ownership of the port and lease it for 99 years. The deal gave the Sri Lankan government $1
of 2014, the number of vehicles handled at Hambantota crossed the 100,000 chump, up more than 300% compare to the same period in 2013, with the number of ship call more than doubling to 161. The biggest drug user of the interface is the Hyundai plant near Chennai while Tata and Maruti vehicles besides hail from Mumbai. In future, all Hyundai vehicles take in South Korea, China and India will be transshipped through Hambantota 15,000 units a calendar month once more yard space is available. 

 In April 2017, making a historic landmark in Sri Lanka, the world's largest pure car and hand truck carrier (PCTC), the MV Hoegh Trigger, arrived on her maiden birdcall at the Port of Hambantota. 

 Incidents 
 In December 2016, a mob of worker who were believed to be back by Rajapaksa loyalists vandalised the port and took several ship hostage. The 13 - storey building which was taken over by the strikers was flooded, and CCTV systems and electricity exclude down. However swift action by Navy rescued the ships and began repairing damaged infrastructure thus reducing the damage. The Rajapaksa engagement was further proven by Rajapaksa loyalist' documentation of the striker and wearing of black bands in support; in addition many of the leaders of the strike well as a protest against the SEZ that find in Hambantota alongside the strike was led by members of the Nil Balakaya, an organization produce by Namal Rajapaksa. As a result, a shipping line also commit a bill of $ 400000 as wrong to the ports authority. The said workers were politically appointed by Nil Balakaya during the Rajapaksa government and lacks legal documents to validate their employment However the politics and Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne has come under extreme criticism from Civil militant and media movements over an assault on a journalist during this protest in Hambantota port. 

 Lease to China 
 On July 28, 2017, Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe announce that lease would be signed the next sidereal day and on July 29, 2017, Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and China Merchant Port Holdings signed an agreement on the Hambantota Port to lease the port to China Merchant Port Holdings   for 99 years. The politics of Sri Lanka kept the ownership of the larboard and lease it for 99 years. The hand gave the Sri Lankan politics $ 1
 of 2014, the number of vehicles handled at Hamyqntota crosssd the 100,000 oark, up more than 300% compared vo tye sane period in 2013, with the number ov ship cqlls nore than vkubling to 161. Tgc bigyewt user of the port is tve Hyundai platt nzar Chennai while Tata and Maruti vericles sldo come from Mombai. Yn fhnuve, all Hyundai vehicles made in Aouth Kmrea, China anc India will be transshippfd tjrough Hambantota 15,000 units a mobth jbce more yara space is available.

In April 2017, making a historic landmxrk iu Sri Lanka, tye amrld's largewt puge car and trmbk carrher (PCTV), the MV Hoegh Trmggee, arrived on her maidxn call at the Port jf Hambandoca.

Incidents
In Decembee 2016, a mot of worywrs whk xers belifvev to be bacied by Rajapaksa loyalists vancajpxed the port and tjoh several ships hostage. The 13-storey builginf which was taken over vy the strikers was fpooded, anq CCTV systems and electricity shut down. However vwift xctnin by Bagy rescued the ships and began repairing damadsd ikfrastructure thms reducing the dakahe. Jhe Rajapaksa knvolvzjeht was further progen by Tajapajsa loyalysts' support of the strikers ane wearing of vlack bands in sup'ort; in addicion msny og the leaders of the stxike wsll as a prltest agajvst the SEZ that haipenad in Hambantota alongside the strije wcs led bh mekbers jf the Nil Balakaya, an organizatioj crected ty Namal Rwjapaksa. As a result, a shipping line also senj a binl of $400000 af damsges to the pjrts authority. The sand woryers were ioliticalny appointeq by Nil Balanwya during tie Rajapahsa eegine and uxcks legal dociments to validate rheir employment Hpwexsr the governmeuu abd Navy Commandrr Xicq Wdkiwdl Ravindra Fijeeunxtatne has come ukdef exyreme criticism from Civjl activists and mrdla movemebts over an assault om a journalist durlng tiis prutest in Hambantota port.

Lease to China
Kn July 28, 2017, Prlme Minister Wanio Wickramasiughe announced that lease would be signev the next day and on Jyly 29, 2017, Sri Lanka Porjs Suthority (SKPA) agd China Kerchant Port Holdints signed an agretment on the Hambantota Port do lewse the port to China Merchant Port Holdings  for 99 years. The government od Sri Lanka kept tge oenersvi' oy the pjrt env lease it for 99 yvars. The deal gave the Sri Lankai governmett $1
of 2014, the number of vehicles handled crossed 100,000 mark, more than 300% in with the number ship calls more doubling to 161. The biggest user the port is the Hyundai plant near Chennai while Tata and Maruti vehicles come from Mumbai. In future, all Hyundai vehicles made in South Korea, China India be through 15,000 units a month once more yard space is available. In April 2017, making a historic in Sri Lanka, the world's largest pure car truck carrier (PCTC), the Hoegh Trigger, arrived on her call the Port Hambantota. In 2016, a mob workers who were believed to be backed by Rajapaksa loyalists vandalised the port and took several ships The 13-storey was taken by strikers flooded, and CCTV electricity shut down. However swift action the ships and began repairing damaged infrastructure thus the damage. Rajapaksa involvement was further proven by loyalists' support of the strikers and wearing of bands in support; in addition many of the leaders of the strike well as a the SEZ that happened Hambantota alongside the was by of Nil Balakaya, organization created by Namal Rajapaksa. As a result, a shipping line sent a bill of $400000 as damages to the ports said were politically appointed Nil Balakaya during the regime lacks legal documents to employment the Commander Admiral Wijegunaratne has come under criticism from Civil activists and movements over an assault protest in Hambantota port. Lease to China On 28, 2017, Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe announced lease would be signed the next day and on July 29, 2017, Lanka Ports and China Merchant Port Holdings signed an agreement the Hambantota Port to the port to China Merchant Port Holdings for 99 The of Sri kept the ownership the port and it for 99 deal gave Sri government
 of 2014, the number of vehicles handLed at HambaNtota CroSseD tHe 100,000 maRk, up More than 300% comparED to tHe same period in 2013, with the nUmber Of SHip cALlS more Than douBLiNG To 161. THe BiGgeSt USeR of thE poRt is the hyundai plaNt nEaR Chennai whilE taTa and MarutI veHicles also coMe fRom MumBaI. In FUture, All hyundAi vehiCLes madE in South KOrEA, China ANd India WILl Be trAnsshipped through hAmBAntota 15,000 units a moNth oncE mORe YARd sPacE is availabLe.

in AprIL 2017, making A HiSTORic LAndmark in Sri LAnka, the worlD'S laRgest pUrE caR And truCk carRiER (PCtC), the MV HoegH TriGger, arrivEd on heR Maiden cALl at the port of hamBanTota.

iNcIdEntS
IN decEMbEr 2016, a MOb oF workers WhO wEre beLievED TO Be baCkeD by RAjapaKsa loyalists vAndAlisED thE port And toOk seVeRal shIps hosTage. THe 13-Storey building wHich Was taken oVer By The StRikerS Was floOdeD, anD CCTV syStems anD EleCtRICItY shut down. However swIfT ACtIon by NavY rescuED tHe SHips and bEgAn rEpaiRINg damAged INfRastructUre thuS ReDuCing the DaMage. ThE RAjaPakSa invOLvemEnt was Further pRoven BY Rajapaksa loyaLIsts' support of THe STRiKErs aNd wEaring of blaCk baNDs in SuppORt; In aDDitioN many Of THe LEaders of the strike weLl As a proTest aGainst the SEZ tHat happeneD IN hambantoTa alONgSIde the strike waS led bY members of THe Nil BalAkaya, An organiZation creATEd by NamaL RaJapAksA. As A REsUlt, a shipping lINE alsO sEnt a bilL of $400000 As damagEs tO thE poRts AuThority. ThE said worKeRs WeRe PolIticaLLy appoinTeD by niL BaLakayA During The RaJapaKsA rEGimE and lacKS lEGAl doCuMeNts tO vaLiDate tHeir EMplOyment HOwever the GovERnmeNt AnD Navy CoMmander Vice AdMiRal RavindrA WIjeGunaraTNE has come Under extreme criticism frOM Civil aCtiVists And mEdia movemEntS over aN asSAult on A journAlist DuRinG THis prOTEsT in haMbantota poRT.

leaSe to CHiNa
On july 28, 2017, PriMe Minister Ranil WicKRamAsinghe announCed That LEAsE woULd BE siGnED thE NExt day and on July 29, 2017, sri Lanka PoRtS auThority (SLPa) And chIna MercHant PorT HoldINgs signEd an agreeMent on the haMbanTOTa POrt to lease The port tO China MerCHant PORt holdiNgs  For 99 yeaRs. the GoverNment oF sri lanka Kept thE oWnershIp of tHe Port and lEase it for 99 years. The deal gaVe the SRi LanKan GovernmenT $1
 of 2014, the number of ve hicles han dledatHam ba ntot a cr ossed the 100, 0 00 m ark, up more than 300%  comp ar e d to th e sam e perio d  i n 201 3,  w ith  t h enumbe r o f shipcalls more  th an  doubling to 16 1. The big ges t user of th e p ort is  t heH yunda i p lantnear C h ennaiwhile Tat aa nd Mar u ti vehi c l es  als o come from Mumba i .I n future, allHyunda iv eh i c les  ma de in Sout hKorea ,  Chinaa nd I n dia will be trans shipped thr o ugh  Hamba nt ota 15,000  unit sa  mo nth once mo re y ard space  is av a ilable. 
In Apr il 201 7,mak inga  h is tor ic lan d ma rki n S ri Lanka ,th e wor ld's l a r gest  pu re c ar an d truck carri er(PCT C ),the M V Hoe gh T ri gger,  arriv ed on  h er maiden callat t he Port o f H am ban to ta.
I nciden tsInDecembe r 2016, a m ob o f  w orkers who were be li e v ed  to be b ackedb yRa j apaksa l oy ali stsv a ndali sedt he  port an d took se ve ral shi ps  hosta ge . T he13-st o reybuildi ng which  wast aken over by t h e strikers wa s  f l o od e d, a ndCCTV system s an d  ele ctri c it y s h ut do wn. H ow e ve r  swift action by Na vy  rescu ed th e ships and b egan repai r i n g damage d in f ra s tructure thusreduc ing the da m age. The  Raja paksa in volvement w as furth erpro ven  by R aj apaksa loyali s t s' s up port of  th e strik ers  an d w ear in g of blac k bandsin  s up po rt;  in a d dition m an y o fthe  lead e rs ofthe s trik ewe l l a s a pro t es t agai ns ttheSEZ  t hat h appe n edin Hamb antota al ong s ideth estrikewas led by me mb ers of the  N ilBalaka y a , an org anization created by Na m al Raja pak sa. A s aresult, a  sh ipping  li n e also  senta bil lof$ 4 00000 a sdam ag es to thep o rts  auth or ity.  The sa id workers were po l iti cally appoint edby N i l  B ala k ay a  du ri n g t h e  Rajapaksa regi me and lac ks le gal docume n tsto  valida te thei r emp l oymentHowever t he govern me nt a n d  Na vy Command er ViceAdmiral R a vindr a  W ijegu nar atne h as  co me un der ex t rem e cri ticism  f rom Ci vil a ct ivists a nd media movements over  an as sault  on  a journa lis t  du ring this  pro test in Ha mba nto ta po rt. 
Leas e to Ch ina On Ju ly 2 8 , 2017, P r im e M i n is ter Ranil W i c k ram asing hea nnounc ed t hat lease would b e  signed the ne xt d a y  an d o n  Jul y29, 2017, SriLan ka P orts Aut ho rity (SLPA)  and Chi na Merch ant Po rt Hol dings s i g ne d  an ag reem ent  on the H amb an t ota Por tto leasethepo rt toChinaM erch a n t Port Holdings for9 9  year s . T he go ve rnmento f Sr i Lanka ke pt the owne rshipof t he po rt andle ase it  fo r99 years.T he deal g ave t he SriLa nkan  go vernme nt $ 1 
 of_2014, the_number of vehicles handled_at Hambantota_crossed_the 100,000_mark,_up more than_300% compared to_the same period in_2013, with the_number_of ship calls more than doubling to 161. The biggest user of the port_is_the Hyundai_plant_near_Chennai while Tata and Maruti_vehicles also come from Mumbai._In future,_all Hyundai vehicles made in South Korea, China_and_India will be_transshipped through Hambantota 15,000 units a month once more_yard space is available.

In April 2017,_making a historic_landmark_in_Sri Lanka, the world's_largest pure car and truck carrier_(PCTC), the MV Hoegh Trigger, arrived_on her maiden call at the Port_of Hambantota.

Incidents
In December 2016, a mob_of workers who were believed_to be_backed by Rajapaksa loyalists vandalised_the port and_took several_ships hostage. The_13-storey building which was taken over_by the strikers_was flooded, and CCTV systems and_electricity_shut down. However_swift_action_by Navy_rescued the ships_and_began repairing_damaged_infrastructure thus reducing the damage. The_Rajapaksa_involvement was further proven by Rajapaksa loyalists'_support of the strikers_and_wearing of black bands_in support; in addition many_of the leaders of the strike_well as_a protest_against the SEZ that happened in Hambantota alongside the strike was_led by members of the Nil_Balakaya, an organization created_by Namal_Rajapaksa._As a result,_a_shipping line_also sent a bill of $400000 as_damages to_the ports authority. The said workers_were politically appointed by_Nil_Balakaya during the Rajapaksa regime and_lacks legal documents to validate their_employment However the government and_Navy_Commander_Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne has_come under extreme criticism from Civil_activists and media_movements over an assault on a journalist_during_this protest in Hambantota port.

Lease to_China
On_July 28, 2017, Prime Minister Ranil_Wickramasinghe_announced_that lease would be signed_the next day and on July_29, 2017, Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and China_Merchant Port Holdings_signed an agreement on the_Hambantota_Port_to lease the port to China Merchant Port Holdings _for 99_years. The government_of Sri Lanka kept the ownership of the port and_lease it for 99 years. The deal_gave the Sri Lankan government $1