Colombo Port expansion to be completed by 2012

Suraj A Bandara

Ports and Aviation Deputy Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardene said the breakwater construction and dredging of the harbour basin next to the Colombo harbour will be completed by April 2012.

According to the Deputy Minister the new Colombo South Harbour will be three times bigger than the existing port. This will make Colombo South Asia's transshipment hub.

All these arrangements are being made to make Sri Lanka the maritime centre in the region.

The construction work of the project is being undertaken by Hyundai of South Korea.

According to SLPA sources 48 percent of the work on the project has been completed.

The new port will expand Colombo's container handling capacity.