SLPA boosts JCT capacity and efficiency with Rs. 10 b investment

 Ministry Secretary K.D.S. Ruwanchandra, SLPA Chairman Keith D. Bernard, Vice Chairman Gayan Alagewattege, Managing Director Prabath J. Malavige, Additional Managing Director (Admin and HR) Nalin Aponso, Additional Managing Director (Port Operations) Lal Weerasinghe, Additional Managing Director (Technical) J.A. Chandrarathna, Director (Operations) U. Kumara, and a group of officials joined the Minister in the inspection visit

• Container handling to be enhanced from 1.8 million TUEs to 2.5 million TUEs per year

The Ports, Shipping and Aviation Ministry yesterday said the efficiency of the Jaye Container Terminal (JCT) will be boosted with Rs. 10 billion investment by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).

JCT is the oldest container terminal at the Port of Colombo and expansion of operational capacity and efficiency is currently being completed and scheduled to be officially opened by the end of the month.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday made an inspection visit to JCT to see the progress.

In addition to the 14 gantry cranes currently in operation, the new development works envisages installing 3 new 45-meter high gantry cranes, lengthening the 1,280 meter anchorage by 120 meters, expanding the container yard by 13 acres, etc.

After the completion of these development work, it will be possible to berth 2 large container vessels at the same time and increase the efficiency of TUEs handling, Sri Lanka Ports Authority says. This will enable the SLPA to increase container handling from 1.8 million TUEs to 2.5 million TUEs per year.