China takes over Colombo South Port development project

Colombo South Port is to be developed by China Merchant Port Company, its existing venture CICT and SLPA as a Public-Private-Partnership project with an investment of US $ 150 million.

Sri Lanka is all set to roll out the first phase of the proposed Colombo South Port development project as a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) with the approval of the cabinet.

“Based on the recommendations of the Cabinet Appointed Negotiation Committee, the Government has decided to implement the Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT) proposal evaluated by a Cabinet Appointed Negotiation Committee,” Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardena said at the post-Cabinet meeting media briefing on Tuesday 24.

As per the evaluation by a Cabinet Appointed Negotiation Committee, Battenberg and Bloemendhal service delivery areas belonging to Colombo South Port were identified as areas that can be developed under PPP.

With the Government looking at transforming the Colombo Port into a service supply hub in South Asia, the proposal to this effect submitted by the Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva was approved Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting on Monday.

The Port of Colombo is the largest commercial port in Sri Lanka as well as a key hub port in the South Asian region. One of the primary strategic objectives of the Port Authority’s National Port Master Plan is to turn Colombo Port into a service supply hub.

The Colombo West Container Terminal is being developed by India’s Adani Group in joint venture with John Keells Holdings which also operates the South Asia Gateway Terminal with several other partners.

The Government of Sri Lanka has requested the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to provide a loan to fund the Government’s project to expand the Port of Colombo by developing the Colombo South Harbour (CSH).

The proposed Expansion of the Colombo South Harbour Project (the project) has been included in ADB’s pipeline as a firm project for approval in 2006.

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) is the Executing Agency for the project.. The project will build breakwaters, terminals, and channels—all within SLPA port limits.

The project comprises a new outer basin enclosed by breakwater and served by navigation channels. The south, east, and west 1 terminals will be built, each with a quay length of 1,200 meters (m) and three or four berths.

The breakwater will provide sheltered water to allow ships to maneuver, berth, load, and unload safely. The total length of breakwater is about 5,000 m. The leeward side of the breakwater will be reclaimed to provide container storage areas with berths on the harbor side.