The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) is providing more space at its main container terminal for freight to ease congestion, according to SLPA managing director Nihal Keppetipola, Lanka Business Online reported.
Container volumes at Colombo port were now growing at 25 percent compared with last year when volumes fell owing to recession.
"We're also expanding the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) yard outskirts for full container load stacking with modern equipment which will ease the current congestion."
The JCT is the biggest container terminal in Colombo port which is a hub for containerised cargoes transhipped to and from the Indian sub-continent.
Colombo port volumes have been rising rapidly in recent months with the revival in trade as big economies emerge from recession.
The rapid growth in cargo volumes as well as problems with transporting boxes between terminals, aging cranes and bad weather had created congestion at the JCT in recent weeks, prompting complaints from shipping lines and shippers.
Keppetipola said that because of the increase in the transhipment trade more ships are calling Colombo.
Port development projects under way includes providing up to 5,000 acres of land for logistics purposes and free zone activities around the new Hambantota port that is being built on the southern coast, Keppetipola said.
"This is in addition to the 5,000 acres available around Trincomalee port which will be converted to an industrial park."
The Hambantota and Colombo port logistics areas will be with connected by rail and road links, he said
New port projects under way at Colombo as well as in southern Hambantota and eastern Trincomalee will also provide large amounts of land for logistics, he said. The SLPA is developing a 22-acre area of land adjacent to Colombo port as a “cargo village” where all logistics operations will take place, including multi-country consolidation, warehousing, stuffing and destuffing, customs inspection and banking.
Container volumes at Colombo port were now growing at 25 percent compared with last year when volumes fell owing to recession.
"We're also expanding the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) yard outskirts for full container load stacking with modern equipment which will ease the current congestion."
The JCT is the biggest container terminal in Colombo port which is a hub for containerised cargoes transhipped to and from the Indian sub-continent.
Colombo port volumes have been rising rapidly in recent months with the revival in trade as big economies emerge from recession.
The rapid growth in cargo volumes as well as problems with transporting boxes between terminals, aging cranes and bad weather had created congestion at the JCT in recent weeks, prompting complaints from shipping lines and shippers.
Keppetipola said that because of the increase in the transhipment trade more ships are calling Colombo.
Port development projects under way includes providing up to 5,000 acres of land for logistics purposes and free zone activities around the new Hambantota port that is being built on the southern coast, Keppetipola said.
"This is in addition to the 5,000 acres available around Trincomalee port which will be converted to an industrial park."
The Hambantota and Colombo port logistics areas will be with connected by rail and road links, he said
New port projects under way at Colombo as well as in southern Hambantota and eastern Trincomalee will also provide large amounts of land for logistics, he said. The SLPA is developing a 22-acre area of land adjacent to Colombo port as a “cargo village” where all logistics operations will take place, including multi-country consolidation, warehousing, stuffing and destuffing, customs inspection and banking.
