Vessel Zhen Hua 10 bringing
the second batch of brand
new terminal equipment at
the JCT of the SLPA. The
equipment imported in the
first batch are also seen in
the background.
The second batch of the
terminal equipment order
from China arrived at Sri
Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA)
recently. Among the latest
arrivals via the vessel
Zhen Hua 10 on the 15th
November 2010 at the JCT of
the SLPA were three brand
new gantry cranes and eleven
rubber Tire Yard Gantry
cranes (RTG - transfer
cranes).
Expressing views at the
occasion the Deputy Minister
of Ports and Highways
Rohitha Abegunawardene
stated that it was a
pleasure to see that the
SLPA was being converted to
offer a pioneering task to
rapidly strengthen the
socio-economic development
of the country making 'Mahinda
Chinathana' a reality under
the leadership of His
Excellency the President
Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Dr.Priyath B.Wickrama -
Chairman of the SLPA
expressing views at the
arrival of the second batch
of brand new terminal
equipment at the JCT stated
that the present Government
should especially be thanked
for the prompt patronage
extended to obtain these
equipments that fulfilled a
long awaited requirement of
the SLPA. He also said that
the purchase of new
equipment was an initiative
of the currently implemented
procedures at the
institution to boost
efficiency and productivity
for a better and enhanced
customer service.
"With the latest arrivals of
new equipment we hope to
increase the operations
capacities by twenty to
twenty five percent.
Following the new purchase,
the currently existing
operations equipment will be
repaired, modernized and
utilized at the domestic
container operations as
well," he added.
Mr.Anura Jayawickrama -
Additional Secretary of the
Ministry of Port and
Highways, Capt. Nihal
Keppetipola - Managing
Director of SLPA,
Mr.G.A.Thalagala - Director
(Port Operations),
Mr.A.D.T.Gunasekara -
Director (Technical),
Mr.Jayantha Perera - Chief
Operations Manager
(Container Operations) and
Mr.Upali De Soyza - Chief
Manager (Logistics) of SLPA
were also present at the
occasion.
The SLPA entered into an
agreement worth Rs.7200
million with the ZPMC in May
last year to import 01 STS
Gantry cranes of 50 tons
capacity and 24 RTG cranes
of 41 tons capacity. The
first batch of the terminal
equipments that included
three brand new gantry
cranes and six RTGs arrived
at the JCT of SLPA last
April.
Currently, Sri Lanka Ports
Authority is geared to
develop five ports around
the country aimed to make
Sri Lanka the maritime hub,
the most efficient and
attractive port in the
region. The brand new
terminal equipment being
imported at the SLPA would
further enable the port to
vastly increase its capacity
and productivity while
enabling Super Panamax
vessels to operate at the
facility.
(CPRD-17112011)
