Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA)
commenced the new year 2014,
offering priority to all
religious activities at its
Chaithya Premises and other
religious centres within the
port with the initiative of
Hon.Minister of Highways,
Ports and Shipping
(Projects) – Rohitha
Abeygunawardena and the
Chairman of SLPA –
Dr.Priyath B. Wickrama.
In an exclusive message at
the occasion, Dr.Priyath
B.Wickrama – Chairman of
SLPA stated that it was
momentous for SLPA to record
a growth of 12.9% TEUs in
transshipment operations
from January to November
last year compared to the
same period of 2012. SLPA
has also shown a 1.5% growth
in domestic operations
making the total growth of
8.3 in TEU operations. The
Jaya Container Terminal (JCT)
of SLPA recorded 9884 TEU
operations which was its
highest ever operations
within a day on 02nd
November 2013, whilst making
the highest ever record of
2,35,750 TEU operations in
one month in July last
year. In the year 2013 SLPA
took steps to attract
container vessels belonging
to 07 major shipping lines
at the JCT.
“ We should appreciate the
efficiency of all employees
of SLPA including the staff
and employees of the JCT for
their dedicated performance
to upgrade the productivity
of all operations,”
Dr.Priyath B. Wickrama
Chairman of SLPA stated.
Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA)
has taken all trends of the
international maritime
sector into serious
consideration in making and
developing its future plans
and strategies. The Colombo
Port Expansion Project (CPEP)
was commenced as a fruitful
measure in this regard and
SLPA is working towards
building its East Terminal
to commence operations in
the near future.
Accordingly, a 400m terminal
and a container yard
facility will be constructed
under phase I with a project
cost of US $ 80 million.
The new terminal will be
equipped with facilities to
cater the largest and mega
container vessels that
would join the international
maritime fleet during the
coming years.
The internal access road
network within SLPA is also
being rapidly developed with
6 lanes from Gate No 01 up
to ‘Ingurukade’ Junction.
At present constructions of
the Unity Container Terminal
has been accomplished with
the aid of the Government of
Japan. Initial plans to
construct the 25 storied
administrations building
for SLPA are also
underway.
SLPA in its port city urban
development plans and
business diversification
plans has also planned to
construct a Colombo Port
City Development Project
filling a land area of 233
hectares in the ocean area
in close proximity to the
port premises. With the
facilities of international
level mega shopping malls,
hotels and housing
facilities to be leased out
on this new project SLPA
expects to collect huge
revenues to the national
development.
Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama also
stated that the SLPA has
also taken steps to fully
automate its transactions
enabling its customers to
obtain speedier services in
all port activities.
Besides the development of
the Port of Colombo, SLPA
has also successfully
launched the developments of
Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda
Rajapaksa Port (MRMRP) in
Hambantota, Galle Port
development, Oluvil Port
development and Trincomalee
Port Development. In
November last year the new
fully fledged
administrations building of
MRMRP was also declared open
by His Excellency the
President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
MRMRP at present, is
operating all RO-RO vessels
to Sri Lanka. The port also
will commence bunkering
operations in the near
future. All measures have
successfully been taken to
start several mega
international export
industrial sites also in the
industrial zone of the new
port.
Dr.Priyath B. Wickrama –
Chairman of SLPA also
conveyed his immense
gratitude to His Excellency
the President Mahinda
Rajapaksa for the timely
leadership and guidance
extended in this regard and
as the Minister of Highways,
Port and Shipping as well as
Hon. Minister of Highways,
Port and Shipping (Projects)
Rohitha Abegunawardena and
the Secretary of the
Ministry for all their
dedicated assistance in
making Sri Lanka the
regional maritime hub in
South Asia.
Secretary of the Ministry of
Highways, Port and Shipping
– Mr.R.W.R.Pemasiri,
Additional Secretary (Ports)
– Mr.Anuradha Wijekoon,
private Secretary to Hon.
Minister of Hoghways, Port
and Shipping – Mr.Chandra
Rajapaksa, Managing
Director of SLPA –
Capt.Nihal Keppetipola,
Additional Director of SLPA
– Mr.Janaka Kurukulasooriya,
Directors of SLPA, Heads of
Divisions, Executive
Officers, Union and Staff
Members and large number of
employees of SLPA were also
present at the ceremony to
mark the commencement of
work of SLPA in the new
year.
(CPRD-01012014)
