President Mahinda Rajapaksa noting the progress of the Colombo Port expansion project, advised relevant officials to expedite the ongoing construction work. 

He made these comments during an inspection tour yesterday (4 August) on the breakwater being constructed at the Colombo Port.

The President also advised relevant parties to commence the construction work of the proposed Port City project before the end of this year.

Colombo is to be expanded out to the sea on reclaimed land with material dredged to build the new port. The Sri Lanka Port Authority is in charge of the project to create this new ‘Port City’ which will be built by adding 450 acres on the city’s western sea front. Basic infrastructure is to be completed within three years, according to reports. The ‘Port City’ is still not officially part of the Sri Lanka map, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Port Authoroty Priyath Wickrama said.

“Because it will be a planned city we can include all the infrastructure that’s needed and it will help reduce problems in the present city such as congestion, traffic jams, lack of space for parking and pollution. We will plan for all that – like roads and sewage and then investors can come in,” the Chairman further stated during a tour for the media of the breakwater recently.

About half of the breakwater has been completed for the new deep water harbour that will significantly expand Colombo Port’s container handling capacity and enable the Port to cater bigger vessels.

The President also instructed to remove all used and old vehicles alongside the Port area.

In order to minimize the city traffic congestion he further advised to make necessary arrangements to utilize the railway facility to transport containers.

Deputy Ministers of the Ministry of Ports and Aviation, Dayashritha Tissera and Rohitha Abeygunawardane and Secretary of Ministry of Ports and Aviation, the Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama and other officials participated for this inspection tour.