Even now, Sri Lanka has immense potential for economic development as this same maritime route is used even today for trade connecting the Europe and the Middle East to China and the rest of Asia. No other country in the world has the advantage that Sri Lanka has in being an island of such a strategic geographic location. Thus, it is vital that Sri Lanka’s ports meet the standards needed to provide an efficient service for ships coming from all corners of the world. Building and reconstructing ports in Sri Lanka is an essential development task with an immense positive impact on the national economy.

The government has recognized this importance of the strategic location of Sri Lanka and the necessity to develop harbours around the island to boost the country’s economy. New projects have commenced to build new harbours and enhance the capacities of existing harbours in the entire island so that all Sri Lankans will benefit equally from development activities that have commenced with the victory over terrorism. Following is an update of the development of the Colombo and Galle ports.

Port of Colombo

The Port of Colombo being the premier Port in the country has been the focal point of important Port development activities in Sri Lanka since the formation of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). With the Government policy to develop the regional areas in the country, at present there is emphasis on the development of Ports of Galle, Trincomalee, Kankasanthurai and Point Pedro as well with a new Port in Hambantota.

The proposed Colombo South Harbour will be located west of the present South-WestBreakwater in an area of approximately 600 hectares. It will have four container terminals in the long term with each terminal 1200m long to accommodate 3 berths.

The development of the phase I of the Colombo South Harbour has two components. One is the infrastructure (breakwaters and dredging) with public sector funds and the other is the first terminal construction with facilities.

The construction of the breakwater by placing of core material and outer protection layers of first 1000m length of the Breakwater has been completed.

The rock transportation by sea from Load Out Point (small harbour) located at Wadduwa, Kalutara is fully operational. 15 to 20 barges of different types of rock arrive in Colombo per week.

The dredging of the main channel for the use of dredged sand in the core of the Breakwater and in the filling of the contractor’s working area is in progress. More than 10 million cubic metres have been completed.

The submarine crude oil pipeline runs across the port entrance at shallow depth. The first shipment of steel pipes consisting 90% of the total requirement has been brought to the site to complete the laying in December 2009.

SLPA initiated actions for the extension of JCT IV berth at Jaya Container Terminal to enhance the capacity of the Port of Colombo to accommodate the Mega Container carriers now in operation. With the implementation of this projects it is possible to berth two 8000 TEU Container ships simultaneously at JCT III and JCT IV.

New Terminal Management System (TOS) has commenced to replace the current JCT Computer System which is obsolete.

Galle Port

The Galle Port is the only Sri Lankan port that provides facilities for pleasure yachts. The International Yacht Society has recognized the Galle Port as one of the world's best. The increase in arrival of these yachts has revived the tourism industry of the country and Galle in particular.

The proposed Galle Port development in the first phase is to provide a fully fledged Yacht Marina for the Galle Port to attract yachters as the previous facilities for yachts were damaged during the Tsunami in 2004. The development of the Port of Galle as a tourist destination will act as a catalyst for the economic growth of the Southern Region of Sri Lanka. In the next phase, facilities will be extended to accommodate passenger cruise ships. The project is to be completed in two phases within three years.

Galle Port would be developed as a Regional Port aiming at a cost-effective transportation mode for the Southern Region. It is also expected that the Port of Galle will play a vital role as a driving force for the Southern area development to narrow regional disparity.

Trincomalee Port

Trincomalee harbour is the fifth largest natural harbour in the world and the available water and land area is about ten times as much as the Port of Colombo.

Trincomalee was tentatively identified to cater for bulk and break bulk cargo and port related industrial activities including heavy industries, tourism and agriculture etc.

At present Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) is in the process of developing Trincomalee as a metropolis growth centre. SLPA has completed a zoning plan to utilize the huge amount of existing unutilized land under its jurisdiction on the outcome of the analysis with other sectors of development, such as UDA, BOI, and Tourist Board etc. SLPA has advertised locally and internationally for proposals from potential investors for the Industrial Park and Tourism Zone in the Trincomalee Ocean City.

Port of Oluvil

Under the “Nagenahira Navodaya” Programme which was launched to expedite the development activities in the region, high priority is given to the development of the Port of Oluvil which is significant to the growth of the Eastern Region of Sri Lanka.

This port will form the South Eastern link in the developing chain of coastal harbours in the country and will provide more convenient and cost effective access to and from the South Eastern region for goods and cargo originating on the west coast.

The proposed project comprises the construction of a commercial harbour and a basin for fishing craft and covers a land area of 60ha in the first stage and 105 ha in the second stage. The harbour basin would cover an area of 16ha of the sea and would spread 1.2km along the coast line.

The acquisition and purchasing of lands for the project is completed. Compensation payments to 806 beneficiaries have already been made.

Permanent Building constructions, such as administration buildings, Fishery Harbour activity buildings etc. are in progress while internal roads and access road constructions are continuing.

Project construction commended on 01st July 2008 and is scheduled to be completed on 30th September 2010.

Meanwhile the constructions of Kankasanthurai and Point Pedro Ports are also in progress as part of port development projects.

Hence, Sri Lanka’s economy is expected to further improve once these ports are in operation. Such development projects have created immense employment opportunities and the entire surrounding areas are expected to develop in the future. The end to three decades of terrorism has brought new hope to Sri Lanka with development activities speedily underway.

Sri Lanka is now on an ambitious path not thought possible a few years ago when terrorism was at its heights. Soon all Sri Lankans will have equal benefit from the many development activities that the government has now committed itself to.