Bid Highlights
- A motivation to host a Commonwealth Games that is intrinsically linked with plans for the long term development of the District of Hambantota and the Southern Province of Sri Lanka.
- All planned competition venues will be developed by 2016 allowing a comprehensive test event programme,including the 2016 South Asian Games.
- Special 'visa on arrival' arrangements will be in place during the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
- A Government-led project, with a strong financial commitment, fully supported by Guarantees.
Transportation
The District of Hambantota is undergoing a period of radical transformation to become a major urban development, one of Sri Lanka’s five future metro cities and a strategic hub for economic development, tourism growth and regeneration initiatives. Investment in the national and regional transport and communication networks will underpin the delivery of the region’s ambitions; serving a migrating population and increasing demand for tourism across the Southern Province. There are a number of major transport infrastructure schemes already underway which will improve connectivity across the District, Sri Lanka and internationally.
This is being achieved as part of Hambantota’s ambitious development plans; plans that are underway and will be implemented with or without the arrival of the Hambantota 2018 Commonwealth Games (the Games). Once complete, this new infrastructure will form the basis of a modern and efficient transport network that will support the development of the District and upon which the Games Transport Strategy can be based.
The Games Park will be served by loop road, which connects to the back of house areas for all the main competition venues. Alternatively, a simple and effective internal highway system will make travel between venues very easy; the journey time between the Games Village and Games Park venues will be less than five minutes.
The rail extension will place the Games Park within 5km of a new rail station which has direct links to Hambantota International Airport, Hambantota city, Matara, Galle and other prominent cities across Sri Lanka.
The Games Park is also within 13km of the Hambantota International Airport, allowing access to the Games Park venues and accommodation in 10 minutes. The Games-time transport systems will provide efficient and effective connections with off-site locations such as key hotels, cultural interest sites and the three competition venues at the Tissa cluster.
A public transport Games
The Games will be based on the use of public transport, building on the opportunity made available by historically low car use in Sri Lanka. Buses will form an integral part of the Games Transport Strategy, using existing buses and the newly acquired fleet which will form part of the improved national bus service post-Games. Park & Ride (P&R) services will be provided for all spectator arrivals at three main surface transport hubs and airport and rail stations. Spectators will be able to access the Games Park in under 35 minutes from all dedicated Games hotel clusters via Games-time shuttle services.
Hambantota International Airport transport
Hambantota International Airport will provide quick, direct links to the MMC and media accommodation, Games Family Hotel and the Games Village. Spectator shuttle buses or Games Family fleet services will connect the airport to the Games Park in around 10 minutes, along the newly upgraded Hambantota-Gonnoruwa-Meegahajandura road.
Access to Hambantota from Colombo
The journey time by road from Colombo to Hambantota will be dramatically reduced by a number of new highway schemes already under construction. The route from BIA to Colombo will be improved by the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway and Outer Circular Highway, due for completion in December 2011. The journey time on to Hambantota will be significantly shortened by the extended Southern Highway; a major new link between the west and south of the country. The total journey time between BIA and Hambantota will be around 2 hours 45 minutes.
Additional Transport Hubs will be provided at:
- Suriyawewa Rail Station – to shuttle rail passengers to and from the venues
- Hambantota International Airport – to shuttle air passengers to and from the venues.
Sri Lanka has an extensive bus fleet, with further developments planned prior to 2018. To meet the Games-time demands, the Ministry of Transport plans to fast-track the procurement of the 2019 and 2020 fleet, providing 1,000 additional buses for the Games Fleet.
News and Events
Sri Lankan Airlines pledge its support to Hambantota 2018 CWG bid
Sri Lankan Airlines, Sri Lanka`s premier international aviation service, have extended its wholehearted support to Hambantota2018 Commonwealth Games bid. Sri Lankan Airlines have pledged to carry Hambantota 2018 Commonwealth Games bid logo in all their flights as part of an international campaign to boost the Hambantota2018 brand. As a global brand the logo provides relevant meaning and experience to people across multiple societies.
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Articles
Hambantota 2018 Commonwealth Games : Impressions of a foreign friend
With regard to Hambantota 2018 legacy plan, considering all what has been carried out so far and what will certainly be done in the months ahead, we selected seven letters to summarize implication and motivation of Sri Lankan authorities and Hambantota 2018 bid committee. Those seven letters are P.R.A.C.H.A.L. seven letters like the seven years ahead the d date. Those letters, according to us, represent Hambantota 2018 legacy plan and Sri Lankans’ motivation to host 2018 Commonwealth Games.
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