Colombo port achieves 5 million of containers target

Minister of Port and Shipping Arjuna Ranatunga on 20.12.2015 revealed that they were in attempt  to bring the Colombo port among the world’s top 20 ports by the end of 2016.

Speaking at the celebration of achieving 5 million containers arrived at Colombo port, minister said that the valuable effort and contribution of the port officials could bring it among the world’s top 26 ports thus far.

” Colombo port receives Rs.29 billion of annual income. However there is a significant portion from the earnings has to be allocated to cover the debt loans of Hambantota port.  So we are in a big trouble of providing welfare facilities to the employees who are working at Colombo port,” minister added.

He further revealed the set targets could be able to achieved by finishing the constructions of Eastern terminal of the Colombo port.

” Our target is to increase the container arrivals in the Colombo port by 10% by the end of next year. However if we could able to complete the constructions of Eastern terminal, we could boost the amount up to 25%,” Ranatunga added.

Minister further went on to say that the set targets were achieved while facing lots of barriers in the available facilities in Colombo port.

“Though we are still continuing its operations using old equipments and machines, the production capacity per hour has been increased from 19 containers to 29 containers. We achieved all those targets by getting the valuable support from our team,” minister charged.

however Ranatunga said that he would further discuss the matter with  the President, Prime Minister and the Finance minister in order to take actions to reduce the debt payments of Hmbantota port.