Ports Minister sticks to guns on ECT

• Insists East Container Terminal will be developed by SLPA 
• Cabinet paper was to procure $ 80 m in equipment
• Says offer of Japanese investment for ECT was rejected 
• Wants to fast-track West Container Terminal, open to investment from India or Japan   

By Nuwan Senarathna 

Even though offers have been received from international parties, the East Container Terminal will be developed by the Government under the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), Ports and Shipping Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said yesterday, dismissing possible investment from India.   

“During the Cabinet meeting I submitted a proposal to revoke the requests made in 2016 calling for proposals to be submitted for a public-private partnership of the ECT,” Minister Samarasinghe said, addressing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) weekly press briefing. Samarasinghe pointed out that he proposed to the Cabinet that all operations of the ECT should be controlled by the SLPA. The Cabinet paper also included the procurement of 20 cranes, which are estimated to be worth about $ 80 million. He said that even though Sri Lanka had received investment offers from international parties including Japan, the Government had rejected them as the focus was on the State running the terminal.  

“I submitted the Cabinet proposal for the procurement of five new bulk handling cranes under two-year lease agreements and 15 rubber tyred gantry cranes. We will call for tenders in the future,” he added.

He asserted that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe had not submitted any Cabinet proposal on ECT development at the meeting this week. Samarasinghe also said he had requested the Cabinet to appoint a procurement committee and another committee to analyse the feasibility of the project. 

Samarasinghe said so far that the SLPA had spent $ 80 million to develop the ECT and insisted the SLPA had adequate funds to procure the equipment needed to make the terminal functional.  

“I must say that during the last six months the Colombo Port has shown one of the highest growth rates among international ports. Leading shipping companies have chosen us because we provide better quality service than most of the harbours in the world. We are trying our best to maintain that level and hope to improve our productivity.” 

According to Samarasinghe, the SLPA has lost Rs. 3 billion in revenue over the last three years due to the delay in completing the ECT. This was partly due to the Government-owned Jaya Terminal not being deep enough for larger ships. The 440-meter quay of the ECT will also be expanded to 800 meters under the current plans.

Samarasinghe also said that the Government was keen to fast-track the West Container Terminal and was open to investment from India or Japan for the venture. 

Pic by Ruwan Walpola