Colombo Port has been ranked the fastest growing container port out of the world’s 30 largest ports by throughput in 1H of 2018. SLPA is keenly observing the traffic growth at Port of Colombo which currently has a container handling capacity of 12 million teu per year and SLPA is seeking a long-term plan for the next 30 years to boost the container handling capacity at the port to around 35 million teu.
Growing cargo traffic calls for infrastructure expansion and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) is just in time to come up with a new port plan. The Colombo North Port will be situated in the northern side of the existing Port of Colombo. SLPA has signed a deal with AECOM Infrastructure and Environment based in UK to conduct a feasibility study into the development of the Colombo North Port, as it looks to expand the cargo handling capacity of the country. The study is expected to be completed in 15 months and is being funded by a portion of Asian Development Bank-funded Transport Project Preparatory Facility. Along with expanding its domestic shipping and logistics market, SLPA hopes the Colombo North Port will also help Sri Lanka become a major trade point on the Indian Ocean.
It is expected that the proposed Colombo North Port may spread from the Kelani River in the Modara area up to the existing northern breakwater of the Colombo Port. It is proposed to handle liquid bulk, dry bulk, RoRo and container traffic.
The maritime nation is maintaining a balanced approach in infrastructure development. On one hand it is planning to expand the seaside infrastructure and on the other hand the infrastructure connecting to the ports is also being upgraded to ensure smooth flow of traffic to the hinterland and vice-versa. Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa officially inaugurated an extension to the country’s extension of Southern Expressway that will link the main ports and airports in Colombo and Hambantota. Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Cheng Xueyuan also graced the occasion. The Southern Expressway is Sri Lanka’s first E Class highway and is currently the longest highway in Sri Lanka.
“The extension of Southern Expressway up to Hambantota will connect lives, livelihoods and boost economic activity. It’s the key infrastructure that links Hambantota Port and Mattala Rajapaksa Hambantota Airport and supports our vision in building Sri Lanka as a logistic hub in Asia,” the president announced. Construction of the extension stretching from Godagama in the southern Matara district to Mattala in the southeastern Hambantota district began in 2015. It will further strengthen Sri Lanka’s position on the Maritime Silk Road.
Minister of Mahaweli, Agriculture, Irrigation and Rural Development, Chamal Rajapaksa said the extension would suit his ministry’s plans to develop export agriculture as the road would enable transport of produce from farms to port and airports.
Construction of the expressway was undertaken by three Chinese contractors including China National Aero-Technology International Engineering Corporation, China State Construction Engineering Corporation and China Harbour Engineering Company. The consulting and supervision was conducted by China Railway First Survey & Design Institute Group Co., Ltd. Some of Chinese construction standards were introduced into this project that represents the advanced level of the Chinese construction and management.
