By: Staff Writer
January 23, Colombo (LNW): The consultancy services for the Colombo Port Expansion Project have been awarded to Dohwa Engineering Co. Ltd. at a cost of $4.2 million. This decision, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, marks a significant step in the development of Container Platform II under Phase II of the project.
The approval follows a rigorous evaluation process conducted in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which is providing both technical and financial support for the initiative.
The selection process adhered to ADB’s competitive criteria. Of 20 initial applicants, seven met the eligibility requirements, with five submitting detailed proposals.
Following financial evaluations of three shortlisted candidates, the Cabinet-appointed Consultation Procurement Committee recommended Dohwa Engineering Co. Ltd. for the consultancy role, as announced by Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.
A major component of the project is the extension of the western water break of Container Platform II. This upgrade is designed to increase the port’s capacity to handle growing maritime traffic, solidifying Colombo Port’s status as a regional shipping hub.
The proposal, submitted by Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation Minister Bimal Rathnayake, was unanimously approved by the Cabinet.
The Colombo Port expansion, spearheaded by the Adani Group, is progressing as planned. According to Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman Sirimevan Ranasinghe, who also holds a minority stake in the project, the Colombo West International Terminal is on track for its Phase I completion by early 2025.
The terminal, part of a $1 billion foreign direct investment from Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ), represents the largest investment in Sri Lanka’s port sector.
The West Container Terminal is being constructed in phases, with the first stage featuring an 800-meter berth expected to be operational by December 2024 or early 2025. A second phase will extend the quay by an additional 600 meters, enabling the terminal to handle up to 3.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually.
In parallel, Sri Lanka is preparing for the development of the Colombo North Port to further expand its transshipment capacity. The nation, recognized as a key global transit hub, sees half of all container ships passing through its waters. Colombo Port, the busiest transshipment port in the Indian Ocean, has been operating at over 90% capacity since 2021.
The ongoing developments underscore Sri Lanka’s commitment to maintaining its strategic position in global shipping, ensuring its infrastructure meets the demands of rising maritime trade.
