The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has commenced a project to widen a bridge inside the Colombo port to facilitate the transport of increased container cargo to the port.
The SLPA in a statement said it has begun the widening of the Harthal Bridge on August 1, marking the 32nd anniversary of the SLPA.

The container cargo traffic has increased considerably as trade recovered after the 30-year ethnic war ended in May 2009.

Supported by strong growth in both transshipment and import-export cargo Colombo Port has experienced record volumes this year.

"The new constructions would further facilitate the increased flow of container transportation in and out of the port," the SLPA said.

Roads inside the port are also being widened to cater to the increasing flow of vehicles, mostly container trucks.

The SLPA chairman Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama said the SLPA had bought new equipment to improve efficiency and ease congestion.

"We have fulfilled a long awaited requirement of purchasing new operation equipment. Currently, three new gantry cranes and six new transfer cranes have been purchased and used in operations."

The Port has in April utilized the new technologically advanced equipment, ordered from China at a cost of 7.2 billion rupees to enhance the efficiency of operations at the Port's Jaya Container Terminal (JCT).