Rapid development in ports, aviation sectors

Ridma Dissanayake

The ports and aviation sectors are experiencing rapid development, new Ports and Aviation Project Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena said yesterday.

He was addressing a press briefing at the Ports and Aviation Ministry yesterday. Minister Abeygunawardena said the Ports and Aviation Ministry will develop and modernize ports to make Sri Lanka, home to one of the 10 best mega port net works in the world.

"Currently, six ports, namely, Colombo South, Galle, Magampura, Kankasanthurai, Oluvil and Trincomalee are being developed as industrial and tourism ports," he added.

"The re-export capacity of Sri Lanka has also increased via these ports and especially the number of re-export vehicles which are re-exported via the Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port in 2012 had increased when compared to the number of re-exported vehicles via Colombo Port in 2011," he said.

"The second phase of the Magampura Port is to commence shortly while operations at the Oluvil harbourare expected to begin by year's end," he added.

He said the ministry also aims to establish the Asia's best road system in Sri Lanka, in keeping with President Mahinda Rajapaksa's wish that a well developed road system is paramount to develop the country's economy and other sectors. Plans are afoot to extend the Kottawa - Galle Expressway to Matara.