{"id":157300,"date":"2026-07-15T15:38:28","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T22:38:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=157300"},"modified":"2026-07-15T15:38:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T22:38:28","slug":"hambantota-port-ownership-structure-shareholding-and-payment-to-the-government-of-sri-lanka","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2026\/07\/15\/hambantota-port-ownership-structure-shareholding-and-payment-to-the-government-of-sri-lanka\/","title":{"rendered":"Hambantota Port: Ownership Structure, Shareholding and Payment to the Government of Sri Lanka"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">Dr Sarath Obeysekera<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>News item<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">Daily FT<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\">https:\/\/www.ft.lk<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">MSC in talks to acquire stake in Hambantota Port<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">6 days ago&nbsp;\u2014&nbsp;(MSC) is in discussions to acquire a significant stake in Hambantota International Port as part of a broader strategy to expand its port&nbsp;&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">&nbsp; &nbsp; How can MSC invest in Hambantota when chinese company owns 85% ?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">Sarath Obeysekera&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">The <strong>Hambantota Port<\/strong> is <strong>not owned outright by China<\/strong>. It is operated under a <strong>99-year concession (lease)<\/strong> through joint venture companies between the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and China\u2019s state-owned <strong>China Merchants Port Holdings<\/strong>. &nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">Ownership structure<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">The port is managed through two companies:<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) \u2013 responsible for port development and commercial operations.<\/a><\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">China Merchants Port Holdings: 85%<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA): 15% \u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">Hambantota International Port Services (HIPS) \u2013 responsible for marine services and common user facilities.<\/a><\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">HIPG: 58%<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">SLPA: 42% \u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">It is important to note that <strong>security, immigration, customs, and naval control remain with the Government of Sri Lanka<\/strong>. The agreement relates to commercial operation of the port, not sovereignty. &nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">How much did China pay?<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">Under the 2017 agreement:<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">US$973.7 million was paid to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority for the acquisition of the 85% stake in HIPG.<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">An additional <strong>US$146.3 million<\/strong> was committed for future port and marine-related investments, making the total planned investment <strong>up to US$1.12 billion<\/strong>. \u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">Did the Government receive the money?<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">Yes. The <strong>US$973.7 million<\/strong> was received by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority\/Government as part of the concession transaction. A significant portion of these funds was used by the Sri Lankan Government to strengthen its foreign exchange reserves and meet debt obligations, rather than to repay the specific Hambantota Port loans directly. &nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">Summary<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">Operator: China Merchants Port Holdings (through HIPG)<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">Concession period: 99 years<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">HIPG ownership: China Merchants 85%, SLPA 15%<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">Amount paid for the stake: US$973.7 million<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">Total committed investment: Up to US$1.12 billion<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.lk\/front-page\/MSC-in-talks-to-acquire-stake-in-Hambantota-Port\/44-794446\">Port sovereignty and security: Remain with the Government of Sri Lanka. \u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dr Sarath Obeysekera News item Daily FT https:\/\/www.ft.lk MSC in talks to acquire stake in Hambantota Port 6 days ago&nbsp;\u2014&nbsp;(MSC) is in discussions to acquire a significant stake in Hambantota International Port as part of a broader strategy to expand its port&nbsp;&#8230; &nbsp; &nbsp; How can MSC invest in Hambantota when chinese company owns 85% [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[116],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-157300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-dr-sarath-obeysekera"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/157300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=157300"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/157300\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":157301,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/157300\/revisions\/157301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=157300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=157300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=157300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}