| Hambantota භම්ඛන්තොට அம்பாந்தோட்டை |
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|---|---|
| — Town and Urban Council — | |
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|
  Hambantota
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| Coordinates: 06°07′28″N 81°07′21″E / 6.12444°N 81.1225°E | |
| Country |  Sri Lanka |
| Province | Southern Province |
| District | Hambantota District |
| Elevation | 3 ft (1 m) |
| Population (2001) | |
| - Total | 11,213 |
| Time zone | +05:30 |
Hambantota (Sinhala: භම්ඛන්තොට, Tamil: அம்பாந்தோட்டை) is a town in southeastern coastal area of Sri Lanka. It is the capital of the Hambantota District in the. Hambantota was badly devastated by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, which was reported to have killed a large proportion of the town's population.
History
Hambantota is famous for its salt flats and intensely hot arid zone climate. With sweeping sandy beaches on the side, it is a convenient base for exploring the nearby Bundala National Park, Yala National Park and the temples at Kataragama. Most inhabitants of Hambantota are Sinhalese and Malays.
Around the years of 1801 and 1803, the British built a Martello Tower on the tip of the rocky headland alongside the lighthouse overlooking the sea at Hambantota. The builder was a Captain Goper, who built the tower on the site of an earlier Dutch earthen fort. The tower was restored in 1999, and in the past, formed part of an office of the Hambantota Kachcheri where the Land Registry branch was housed. Today it houses a fisheries museum.
Politics
Hambantota is the electoral district of current President of Sri Lanka. Hambantota District comprises of Beliatta, Mulkirigala, Tangalle and Tissamaharama electoral wards.
Infrastructure
Airport
The Hambantota International Airport is a proposed international airport to be built in the town of Mattala in Hambantota.[1] After completion, it would be one of the only two existing international airports after the Bandaranayake International Airport.
Harbour
Hambantota is also the selected site for a new harbour development project, the Hambantota Harbour.
Railway
In support of the new harbour, construction work started in 2006 to build a broad gauge railway to Hambontota.
Cricket
The Hambantota Cricket Stadium, with a capacity of 25,000 seats, is currently being built in this area. The cost of this project is an estimated Rs. 900 million (US$7.86m).[2]
Hambantota has also been chosen as one of the venues hosting cricket matches during the 2011 Cricket World Cup. Although no information about the venue has been officially released. Once selected, it would be the first time cricket tournament which Sri Lanka host.
Wind farm
The Hambantota Wind Farm, which was constructed in 1999, is the only existing wind farm in the country, is located in Hambantota. Wind energy developments are unseen in the country due to the immense obstacles faced by such developments, such as poor roads and unstable power grid.
References
External links
- Travelers guide, Hambantotazone.com
- Travelers guide, Tourslanka.com
- Tourist information, Deepsouth.lk
- Map of Hambantota at Fallingrain.com
Coordinates: 06°07′28″N 81°07′21″E / 6.12444°N 81.1225°E
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