A German delegation headed from the port of Hamburg held talks with Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) on assistance and collaboration between the two harbours.

The visiting teams inspected the new port under construction next to the existing Colombo harbour which is meant to expand container handling capacity and expected to start operations by early 2013.

The German team was headed by Ian Kiru Karan, State Minister (Senator) for Economic Affairs and Labour, city of Hamburg in Germany, who was born in the northern Sri Lankan town of Point Pedro.

Karan had talks with SLPA chairman Priyath Wickrama on extending assistance and support and on collaboration through port-related activities between Hamburg and Colombo.