Ports and Shipping Minister pays special port inspection visit to Port of Colombo

Minister of Ports and Shipping Rohitha Abeygunawardena making his first port inspection visit. Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Shipping U.D.C. Jayalal, SLPA Chairman Gen. Daya Ratnayake, Vice Chairman/Managing Director W.S. Weeraman, Additional Managing Director Upali de Zoysa, Director (Technical) Susantha Abesiriwardana, and Director (Operations) Jayantha Perera are also present.

Minister of Ports and Shipping Rohitha Abeygunawardena made his first port inspection visit after assuming duties on 25 August.

He also attended a special meeting for the Heads of Divisions of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) at the SLPA Chairman’s Office. Following the meeting, Minister Abeygunawardena inspected the East Container Terminal (ECT), the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) and the Pilot station at the Port of Colombo. 

Speaking at this special inspection visit, Minister Abeygunawardena emphasized the period of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s presidency as the country’s golden era of the ports and shipping industry in recent times. “The role played by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the then-Minister of Ports and Shipping was immense,” he said. 

Minister Abeygunawardena said that during that time, he had the opportunity to serve as the Deputy Minister of Ports and Shipping, and was able to bring the Port of Hambantota, the East Container Terminal (ECT), and also the Colombo Port City into port assets. He said that such a golden era fell into a pathetically unfortunate situation for the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) after the Yahapalanaya Government came to power.

Commenting further, Minister Abeygunawardena said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had emphasized that his objective was to make progress of the ports and shipping industry sustainable, ending the dark period and transforming it into a brighter era through the vision of prosperity. He said that as the Minister in charge of Ports and Shipping, collective decisions would be taken in discussions with all related parties, to take necessary steps to upgrade the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT), expedite operations of the East Container Terminal (ECT), and establish an efficient and productive service in all sectors and related services. 

Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Shipping U.D.C. Jayalal, SLPA Chairman Gen. Daya Ratnayake, Vice Chairman / Managing Director W.S. Weeraman, Additional Managing Director Upali de Zoysa, Director (Technical) Susantha Abesiriwardana, Director (Operations) Jayantha Perera, SLPA Directors, Heads of Divisions, and trade union representatives also joined the occasion.