Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA)

SeaLead launches new liner service with Sri Lanka Ports Authority

SeaLead Shipping officially inaugurated its new direct liner service in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) on 2 October at Sri Lanka’s Port of Colombo.

The inauguration ceremony in Colombo saw participation from distinguished representatives of both SeaLead and SLPA. Bongso Basheer, General Manager of Liner Management of SeaLead Shipping in Singapore, along with Harsha De Silva, Managing Director of Specialised Shipping Services, and several other senior executives from...

https://container-news.com/sealead-launches-new-liner-service-with-sri-lanka-ports-authority/

Maersk Edmonton marks debut call at Sri Lanka’s East Container Terminal

On 5 April 2024, Maersk Edmonton, a vessel operating within West Africa Xpress Service (WAX Service) of Maersk and CMA CGM, made its inaugural call at the East Container Terminal (ECT) of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).

This milestone marks Maersk’s first visit to the ECT but also signifies the beginning of a promising partnership between the Danish container giant and SLPA.

The launch of this new service was initiated by CMA CGM Sri Lanka and was formally established during a delegation...

https://container-news.com/maersk-edmonton-marks-debut-call-at-sri-lankas-east-container-terminal/

Sri Lanka Ports Authority orders US$280 million cranes from China

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) is set to receive twelve state-of-the-art STS Gantry cranes and forty ARMG cranes from China, totalling US$282 million in investment.

On 2 February, three STS Gantry cranes arrived at the SLPA’s East Container Terminal (ECT) in the Port of Colombo. These cranes, fully funded by the SLPA, will enhance operations at the ECT. The delivery of the remaining cranes is underway, with the vessel ZHEN HUA 24 currently en route to Sri Lanka carrying the new STS...

https://container-news.com/sri-lanka-ports-authority-orders-us280-million-cranes-from-china/

Shipping agents threaten to stop carrying cargoes to and from Sri Lanka

Shipping agents in Sri Lanka have warned that shipping lines could stop accepting import and export cargo to and from Sri Lanka as they are failing to remit freight charges due to the ongoing severe foreign currency crises in the island nation.

The local agents told the Shipping and Aviation Minister, Nimal Siripala de Silva, that they have reportedly failed to remit US$70 million in freight costs to the shipping lines during the last several months.

Sri Lanka has been facing an acute forex...

https://container-news.com/shipping-agents-threaten-to-stop-carrying-cargoes-to-and-from-sri-lanka/

Colombo port workers return to work after 23 hours

Workers at Colombo port returned to work on Wednesday (11 May) afternoon after enforcing strikes for 23 hours since Tuesday (10 May) evening.

The Sri Lankan police enforced a state of emergency as a violent clash erupted across the country which forced the island nation’s Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, to resign on Monday (9 May).

The port workers had also joined the protests and at one stage on Tuesday evening they stopped working in all terminals of the regional transshipment port leaving...

https://container-news.com/colombo-port-workers-return-to-work-after-23-hours/

Sri Lanka to collect shipping payments only in US dollars, aims to exceed US$100 million/year in revenue

Sri Lanka’s newly appointed Cabinet Minister Ports and Shipping Hon. Premitha Bandara Tennakoon has decided to encourage shipping lines to pay Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) in US dollars.

The minister has taken initiative to discuss with all stakeholders in the shipping industry as well as Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) officials to increase the revenue in US dollars.

His initiative has resulted in converting payments that were paid by shipping lines to SLPA from local currency to US dollar.

T...

https://container-news.com/sri-lanka-to-collect-shipping-payments-only-in-us-dollars-aims-to-exceed-us100-million-year-in-revenue/

Second phase of Colombo East Container Terminal construction begins

President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa and prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa have announced the commencement of construction work for the second phase of the East Container Terminal (ECT) at the Colombo Port.

Construction of the terminal, which will be conducted in three phases in a project of US$510 million, is scheduled to be completed in 2024.

The total expenditure expected to be spent for the project is US$510 million and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) will spend US$200 million,...

https://container-news.com/second-phase-of-colombo-east-container-terminal-construction-begins/

SLPA looks for US$325 million funds to proceed with East Container Terminal project

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) is looking for US$325 million funds to make its newly built East Container Terminal (ECT) operational.

The SLPA has now invited expressions of interest (EOI) from eligible domestic/international banks and financial institutions, to finance procurement of required equipment and terminal operating system for the new gateway.

The port authority has already developed 575-meter of the quay wall, adjacent yard area, and connected facilities at the ECT.

In order to...

https://container-news.com/slpa-looks-for-us325-million-funds-to-proceed-with-east-container-terminal-project/

SLPA signs US$700 million deal for new container terminal in Colombo

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) have signed a 35-year agreement to jointly develop the Colombo West International Container Terminal (CWICT) of the Port of Colombo (POC).

The Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) agreement is worth more than US$700 million and constitutes the largest foreign investment ever in the port sector of Sri Lanka, with its premier diversified company, John Keells Holdings PLC, being a major foreign investor.

Sri Lanka...

https://container-news.com/slpa-signs-us700-million-deal-for-new-container-terminal-in-colombo/

X-Press Pearl is sinking off Sri Lanka

The Singaporean-flagged vessel X-Press Pearl is sinking off the coast of Sri Lanka after two weeks of salvors’ attempts to put out the fire and prevent the vessel from breaking up and sinking.

“Although the salvors have tried and exhausted all means, the operation had to be temporality aborted for safety reasons,” confirmed Sri Lanka Ports Authority earlier today (2 June).

Salvors have established a connection to tow the vessel into the deep sea in order to minimise the sea pollution, “but the...

https://container-news.com/x-press-pearl-is-sinking-off-sri-lanka/

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