The Sri Lanka
Ports Authority (SLPA)
said that renovation
of the
Kankasanthurai port
is a “tough task” in
view of the current
ongoing projects in
four other ports in
the country.
The government
has expressed
interest in opening
up the
Kankasanthurai port
following the
capture of some key
areas, SLPA Acting
Chairman Priyath
Bandu Wickrama said.
In an interview
with the Daily
Financial Times he
said that they were
currently discussing
the development of
the harbour and
believed it would
take some time in
view of the security
clearance required
in this respect from
the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN).The
opening of this
harbour would be
carried out in a bid
to ensure that
essential
commodities are
being transported to
the North and East
for which currently
facilities are not
in place, the acting
chairman stated.
The required
improvement has been
called for by the
government as they
have come up with
plans to ensure that
the port will be
operational and in
full gear before the
end of this year.
It was mentioned
that currently the
SLPA is engaged in
work relating to the
inspection of the
breakwater of the
port while at the
same time conducting
discussion with the
SLN in addition to
yard and road
renovation.
SLPA is expected
to obtain monetary
assistance from the
Treasury for the
renovation work at
the Kankasanthurai
port. Meanwhile, the
SLPA is gearing up
to call for tenders
for the Colombo
South Port next
month. He noted that
the first tender was
cancelled in view of
the “national
interest”.
The Colombo Port
Expansion Project (CPEP)
as it is referred
to, is currently in
progress, Wickrama
observed adding that
they were engaged in
dredging work
parallel to which
they were building
the breakwater.
The progress on
the CPEP is lagging
due to the policies
adopted previously
if not it should
have completed work
in 2007, it was
pointed out. In the
meantime, the
Hambantota port is
progressing
according to the
scheduled time which
would be operational
by mid 2010 while
the CPEP is expected
to be in operation
by 2011/12, Wickrama
said.
Construction work
on the Oluvil port
has commenced while
tenders for the
construction of the
Galle port is
currently under
evaluation.
“We are planning
to start
construction by end
October,” he said.
(DM-26082008)
