Colombo port records 10% growth

The Colombo Port has shown a 10% growth in its operations last year handling 2,455,297 TEUs.

Operating 1.5 million TEUs over 2004, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority recorded a 15.4% growth. This is the highest ever amount of TEUs handled after Queen Elizabeth Quay was handed over to the private sector in 1999.

The Colombo Port reached the highest overall volume recorded container throughput in 2005 while the SAGT controlled by the private sector recorded only 3.5% growth.

The SLPA was able to keep a steady continuity in its container throughout growth throughout the last year at an international standard. The Authority reported its highest ever growth of 31.9 in April last year.

The highest monthly container throughput volume of 138,385 TEUs was reported last October. Since July last year, SLPA was able to keep a rate of 1,30,000 TEUs each month. Accordingly Colombo Port reported its highest overall monthly volume of 220,732 TEUs in August 2005.

The rate of 10% growth is therefore, a very satisfactory level. The Present SLPA management maintains higher volumes in operation in larger scale to increase revenue.

SlPA revenues has grown over Rs. 3.6 billion during the first half of November compared to the corresponding period in 2004. The authority signed nine Terminal Service Agreements (TSAs) and is expected to reach higher productivity by building better and direct contacts.

The new TSAs build confidence of global shipping giants on the Colombo Port encouraging the SLPA work force towards improved productivity level.