Colombo Port container handling to increase to 35 million TEUs – Minister
Ports, Shipping, and Aviation Minister, Nimal Siripala de Silva said, “our aim is to increase the container handling capacity of the Port of Colombo from 8.5 to 35 million TEUs”.
He made this comment at the initiation of the construction work of the operations building at the East Container Terminal (ECT) of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). The construction of the ECT operations building commenced on Tuesday (8) under the initiative of the Minister, Nimal Siripala de Silva.
The 1,300-metre terminal will be built at a cost of USD 580 million. The gantry cranes required for operations at the terminal have already been ordered. The construction of the four-story main operations building at the terminal will cost Rs. 1,300 million and is planned to be completed by February next year.
Speaking on this occasion, the Minister stated that the 8.5 million current TEU handling capacity at the Port of Colombo (PoC) will be increased to 35 million TEU handling capacity with the completion of ECT, Jaya Container Terminal V (JCT-V), Western International Container Terminal (WICT), and the proposed North Port Projects in the future.
“It is my wish that the SLPA officials, employees, and trade union representatives should contribute and help carry out the construction work of the ECT according to a proper and accurate timeline,” the Minister said.
Commenting further, he emphasized that the operations of the ECT should be carried out with semi-automation and with a minimum number of employees recruited for its operations.
“These opportunities should be made available to the skilled youth of this country. They should have the potential to achieve maximum productivity through elevated efficiency in the operational process, especially by utilizing the most advanced technologies for port and terminal operations. For this reason, everyone should well-identify the latest trends in the global commercial shipping industry, which runs in a very lucrative yet highly competitive business environment,” he added.
Additional Secretary (Development) to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation Kumari Somarathna, SLPA’s Chairman Keith D. Bernard, Vice Chairman Gayan Algewattage, Managing Director Prabath J. Malavige, Additional Managing Directors, Directors, a number of Heads of Divisions, Executive Officers, staffs, employees, and Trade Union Representatives also attended the occasion.