President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed authorities to take measures to improve the country's civilian naval operations to meet international standards as the sector is a substantial source of foreign exchange.

He has asked the authorities in the Shipping Corporation to take immediate measures to establish a naval training center confirming to international standards.

Participating in a progress review meeting of civilian naval operations at the Temple Trees on Friday, the President has pointed out that the civilian naval operations earn a substantial amount of foreign exchange and improving the services to international standards is necessary.

He has noted that the training could be carried out systematically incorporating all sectors in the naval field.

Under the initiatives a tourist harbor is to be constructed at the Galle Harbor in the South within the next three years aiming to develop the tourism industry.

A container village will also be constructed in the Peliyagoda, just outskirts of capital Colombo, within the next three years to increase container shipping.

The government also plans to utilize latest technologies to establish electronic financial transactions in port operations for efficient functioning of local and foreign naval operations within a short period.

The meeting has also focused on the expansion of the Colombo harbor and the construction of the Colombo South Harbor.