The ceremonial opening of the Spectroscopic Portal Monitor of the Megaport Surveillance System at SLPA by Charge d’affaires of the US Embassy Ms Valerie Fowler. Port and Aviation Ministry Secretary Ranjith de Silva, SLPA Managing Director Capt. Nihal Keppetipola, Harbour Master Capt. Ravi Jayawickreme and Customs Director General Sarath Jayatilake were also present.

The Ports and Aviation Ministry took over a Spectroscopic Portal Monitor of the Megaport Surveillance System on behalf of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) in the Port of Colombo recently.

This ultra modern Portal Monitor was installed under the Megaports initiative in the Colombo Port by the US Energy Department.

SLPA Managing Director Capt. Nihal Keppetipola that after signing of the MOU with the Government of the USA for the implementation of the Megaports initiative in 2004, and commissioned in 2006, Colombo became the first Port in Asia that was Compliant with the Megaport initiative, The Customs Security Initiative and the International Ship and Ports Security Code.

He said the installation of the Spectroscopic Portal Monitor which again is a first in any Asian Port as well as the third of its kind worldwide is an endorsement of the importance of Colombo as the Hub of South Asia as well as an appreciation of the investment of US $ 1.5 b on port infrastructure and superstructure development which will ensure that Sri Lankan Ports will certainly have a competitive edge over other regional Ports.

Ports and Aviation Ministry Secretary Ranjith de Silva said the faith the US Energy Department has placed in the Colombo Port speaks volumes of the Sri Lanka Government’s commitment to develop and expand facilities at the Port which is the Hub of South Asia.

He said the Government is committed to global security. A country that was strife torn for thirty years is peaceful once again and it is time to reap the benefits of peace. Port expansion projects are going on at a tremendous pace. The brand new Port of Hambantota in the South will be operational by early 2011.

The Colombo Port expansion should be completed and the first terminal operational by end of 2012. Capacity in the Port of Colombo will be increased by almost 50 percent with the first terminal detection facility coupled with other progress has given a competitive edge over many other growing ports in the region.
(DN18012010)