Chairman's Message
Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama
Chairman
SLPA commemorates
33rd anniversary with broader
prospects for future maritime
prosperity
Sri Lanka Port
Authority (SLPA) commemorates its
33rd anniversary on the 01st of
August 2012. Expressing views on the
occasion, Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama –
Chairman of SLPA emphasizes that the
Sri Lankan ports should be strongly
developed for their sustainable
existence in the maritime sector,
with rapid globalization and amidst
challenging competitions between
international ports.
Following the
guidelines set at ‘Mahinda
Chinthana’ policy document of the
Government of His Excellency the
President Mahinda Rajapaksa and
instructions extended by Hon.Deputy
Minister of Port and Highways –
Rohitha Abegunawardhana, SLPA’s
timely implementations during the
past few years to develop its ports
in Colombo, Hambantota Galle and
Oluvil saw successful progress with
winning achievements to keep the
glory of the country being developed
as the next maritime hub in the
region at an apex in the
international arena.
In order to
strengthen the efficiency at the
Jaya Container Terminal (JCT), SLPA
recently purchased brand new gantry
cranes, transfer cranes and prime
movers. The institution also
launched a new scheme of programmes
to train its workforce who can
efficiently maneuver the new
equipment. As a result during the
past two years JCT has marked an
increased improvement in capacity.
Compared to the
year 2010, SLPA has reached a
growth of 6.1% in its total
throughput operations in 2011. It
has also marked an increase of 14.9%
in domestic operations. During the
first half of this year and in
comparison to same period last year,
Sri Lanka Ports Authority has
achieved a growth of 3.1% in the
total throughput operations. The
growth seen in the domestic
operations is 13.1%.
At present,
through the Colombo Port Expansion
Project (CPEP), the Port of Colombo
is being developed to facilitate
all types of future container
vessels that include even mega
container vessels, enabling the
port’s sustainability as a fully
fledged transshipment centre. Plans
have already been drawn to construct
and operate the first berth of the
eastern terminal of CPEP through the
SLPA by July 2013. The south
container terminal of the CPEP will
be constructed and operated by
Colombo International Container
Terminal (CICT) Ltd; of which SLPA
is also a share holder, and the
first berth will be operational by
April 2014.
The road
developments within SLPA is also
underway and the tracks will be
developed up to six lanes. The
expansions of the Harthal bridge
within, started on the 01st August
last year has been fully completed.
The transfer of
all Ro Ro operations from Colombo to
Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa
Port (MRMRP) in Hambantota from June
this year extended the best
solution to the present congestion
of traffic in Colombo for Ro Ro
operations. Ro Ro vessels delayed
for weeks awaiting berth at the port
of Colombo has now seen quicker ,
efficient and smoother operations at
the brand new MRMR Port in
Hambantota. The aim of SLPA is to
handle one million units of vehicles
at MRMRP as a Ro Ro transshipment
port, by the next five years. A
large number of requests for
proposals to commence industries at
the Freeport have been received from
investors whilst several have
commenced constructions of
industries at the free trade zone of
the port. SLPA is also at
progressive discussions with several
global companies of constructing
terminals abroad using the
engineering and consulting
expertise of the institution.
The one stop
centre designed for the SLPA will be
constructed at the Canal Yards at
Fort area in Colombo and will bring
all port administrative sections
and units under one roof. More than
50% of space of the new building
will be allocated for ship agents’
offices, banks and other related
service providers. A fully fledged
cargo village is also under way at
Peliyagoda. The proposed port city
to be built will occupy
approximately 230 Hectares that is
nearly 575 acres of water front with
the shelter of new breakwater and
will reclaim an investment of
approximately US$ 900 Million. The
plan has also been given approval by
the Standing Cabinet Appointed
Review Committee (SCARC). At the
recently concluded international
Seatrade Conference and Exhibition
at the Hilton hotel in Colombo,
Dr.Priyath B.Wickrama – Chairman of
SLPA emphasized that the area will
be developed as a port city with a
proper planning to equip with roads,
water, electricity, communication
facilities to set up shopping areas,
water sport area, mini golf course,
hotels, apartments, recreation
areas, marinas and with a lot more
additions that would develop the
area as a modern city.
The mega
developments and all due welfare
activities that included a
successful insurance scheme for all
port staffs and employees
implemented during the past years
have contributed at large, towards
better and sustainable industrial
peace at the institution to
efficiently perform as a glorious
public sector institution that
caters towards the national
socio-economic development of Sri
Lanka. The new innovations with
mega construction activities will
not only change geography and
outlook of Sri Lanka, but also
extend immense strength to the
Government’s efforts to ensure
continuity and dedication towards
realizing the goal of making Sri
Lanka, the most competitive and
preferred maritime and logistic
center in the Asian region.
Message in Sinhala Language
