Ports Minister calls for immediate report on ECT development project

Roads and Highways, Ports and Shipping Minister Johnston Fernando ordered relevant officials of the Port Ministry to submit a detailed report on decisions that should be made to expedite the next phase of the Eastern Container Terminal (ECT) development project during a meeting held yesterday at the Ministry auditorium to examine the progress of the ECT construction project.

The meeting was organised to look into the proposals made by almost all the trade unions of the port which had been forcing rulers to initiate operations at ECT with direct intervention of Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA).

Addressing the meeting, the Minister stressed the importance of completing ECT terminal soon as it is a rigid factor which can yield comprehensive hike in container throughputs. The Government ruled before 2015 had taken all the necessary steps to initiate operations at the ECT terminal nevertheless as the Government was changed the decision taking procedure got stuck resulting port sector to a big trouble, Ministry officials said. 

The Minister who further expressed views at this occasion pointed out that the Colombo Port has been failing to integrate further container throughputs due to absence of ECT. Accordingly following the facts presented by Ministry officials, the Minister noted all the necessary steps will be taken to fast-track the ECT development project.  

Ministry Secretary Admiral Sirimewan Ranasinghe, group of Ministry and SLPA officials took part in this meeting.