SLPA turns 33 with broader prospects for maritime prosperity

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) will today commemorate its 33rd anniversary with broader prospects for maritime prosperity in the future.

Expressing views on the occasion, SLPA Chairman Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama emphasised that the Sri Lankan ports should be strongly developed for their sustainable existence in the maritime sector with rapid globalisation and amidst challenging competitions between international ports.

Following the guidelines set out in the ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ policy document of the Government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and instructions extended by Deputy Minister of Port and Highways Rohitha Abeygunawardhana, the SLPA’s timely implementations during the past few years to develop its ports in Colombo, Hambantota Galle and Oluvil saw successful progress with winning achievements to keep the glory of the country being developed as the next maritime hub in the region.

In order to strengthen the efficiency at the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT), SLPA recently purchased brand new gantry cranes, transfer cranes and prime movers. SLPA...

The institution also launched a new scheme of programmes to train its workforce who can efficiently manoeuvre the new equipment. As a result during the past two years JCT has marked an increased improvement in capacity.

Compared to the year 2010, SLPA has reached a growth of 6.1% in its total throughput operations in 2011. It has also marked an increase of 14.9% in domestic operations. During the first half of this year and in comparison to same period last year, the SLPA has achieved a growth of 3.1% in the total throughput operations. The growth seen in the domestic operations is 13.1%.

At present, through the Colombo Port Expansion Project (CPEP), the Port of Colombo is being developed to facilitate all types of future container vessels that include even mega container vessels, enabling the port’s sustainability as a fully-fledged transhipment centre.

Plans have already been drawn to construct and operate the first berth of the eastern terminal of CPEP through the SLPA by July 2013. The south container terminal of the CPEP will be constructed and operated by Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) Ltd., of which SLPA is also a share holder, and the first berth will be operational by April 2014.

Road developments within SLPA are also underway and the tracks will be developed up to six lanes. Expansion of the Harthal Bridge within, started on 1 August last year, has been fully completed.

The transfer of all Ro-Ro operations from Colombo to Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port (MRMRP) in Hambantota from June this year extended the best solution to the present congestion of traffic in Colombo for Ro-Ro operations.

Ro-Ro vessels delayed for weeks awaiting berth at the Port of Colombo have now seen quicker, more efficient and smoother operations at the brand new MRMR Port in Hambantota. The aim of SLPA is to handle one million units of vehicles at MRMRP as a Ro-Ro transhipment port, within the next five years.

A large number of requests for proposals to commence industries at the Freeport have been received from investors, whilst several have commenced constructions of industries at the Free Trade Zone of the port.

SLPA is also in progressive discussions with several global terminal constructing companies abroad, using the engineering and consulting expertise of the institutions.

The one-stop centre designed for the SLPA will be constructed at the Canal Yards at Fort area in Colombo and will bring all port administrative sections and units under one roof. More than 50% of space of the new building will be located for ship agents’ offices, banks and other related service providers. A fully-fledged cargo village is also under way at Peliyagoda.

The proposed port city to be built will occupy approximately 230 hectares that is nearly 575 acres of water front with the shelter of new breakwater and will reclaim an investment of approximately US$ 900 million. The plan has also been given approval by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Review Committee (SCARC).

At the recently-concluded international Seatrade Conference and Exhibition at the Hilton in Colombo, Dr. Wickrama emphasised that the area would be developed as a port city with proper planning to equip it with roads, water, electricity and communication facilities to set up shopping areas, a water sport area, a mini golf course, hotels, apartments, recreation areas, marinas and a lot more additions that would develop the area as a modern city.

The mega developments and all due welfare activities that included a successful insurance scheme for all port staffs and employees implemented during the past years have contributed at large towards a better and sustainable industrial peace at the institution to efficiently perform as a public sector institution that caters towards the national socioeconomic development of Sri Lanka.

The new innovations with mega construction activities will not only change the geography and outlook of Sri Lanka, but also strengthen the Government’s efforts to ensure continuity and dedication towards realising the goal of making Sri Lanka the most competitive and preferred maritime and logistics centre in the Asian region.