The Colombo Ports Authority is now in the process of reopening the northern entrance for navigation purposes following the testing of under water defence system. They have also installed an activated water defence system for this purpose, port sources said.

This move will enable to avert key constraints and lengthy delays for cargo ships and raised costs for shipping lines and port terminals, source said.

Due to long delays in the Port of Colombo, it is losing the competitiveness since the south Asia's transshipment hub creating many opportunities to other countries in the region including Dubai India and Singapore. It is said that LTTE tried to attack the Colombo Port several times and were averted due to the strong security measures adopted by the security authorities.

During the last few weeks security authorities tested different under water surveillance systems and intruder detection system to improve the security situation in the Port, due to avert terrorist attacks.

The northern entrance has remained closed for over a year to protect the port against LTTE attacks. Therefore the port had only one channel for navigation causing many traffics for shipping lines. This caused a major loss to the country due to the congestion, sources said.

The navigation delays meant higher costs for both vessel operators as well as port terminals operators owing to the frequent delays.