Consultancy service for Galle Port development project

COLOMBO: The contract agreement of the consultancy service for the Port of Galle Development project was signed between the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and M/s Pacific Consultants International on Thursday.

The agreement was signed between Saliya Wickramasuriya, Chairman, Sri Lanka Ports Authority and N. Endo, Director (Assist to President Project Execution) of Pacific Consultants International.

This project is to develop the Port of Galle as a regional port by constructing new deeper multi-purpose berths for longer ships and meet future demand and to relocate part of the Break-Bulk cargo handling from the Port of Colombo.

It will also help ease the channel congestion in the Port of Colombo by transferring part of the break bulk activities to Galle and thus contributing towards enhancing container handling activities in the Port of Colombo.

The Japanese Yen 14,495 million (Rs. 13,750 million) loan project will also facilitate the Southern area development plan being implemented.

This will upgrade the Port of Galle that will ensure to handle future generation of cargo vessels, world class passenger ships and cruise ships and also provide facilities to handle car carriers to foster transshipment car activities.

The project includes construction of breakwater (1150m length), a multi-purpose terminal having two berths, dredging of approach channel and the turning basin and procurement equipment and a fully integrated computer system.

The development of two 14m deep multi-purpose berths adjacent to and outside the existing harbour is envisaged with the conversation of existing port to a yacht marina linking the Galle heritage city with a boardwalk for tourism development.