Sri Lanka Ports Authority is planning to call for tenders for the construction of the second terminal of Colombo South Harbour by 2017.
Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chief Engineer (Planning and Development), Susantha Abeysiriwardena told Daily News Business that SLPA would call for international tenders for the construction of the second terminal of Colombo South Harbour depending on the demand forecast.
Colombo harbour will be ready to handle 10 million TEUs by 2020 with the completion of the current construction of the Colombo South Harbour expansion project as against the current 4.2 million TEUs handled per annum by the port.
According to Abeysiriwardena, the construction of the $ 400 million infrastructure project at Colombo South harbour has already been completed and it is expected to be declared opened by the end of April this year.
The infrastructure project, funded by SLAP will consist of two breakwaters and other facilities. According to Abeysiriwardena, the first stage of the South Container Terminal is expected to be opened byJuly.
The construction of the South Container Terminal project is a US $ 500 million investment, funded by the Hong Kong-based China Merchants Holding (International) Company Ltd. The China Merchants Holding (International) Company Ltd and the SLAP have 85 % and 15% equity partnership respectively in the South Container Terminal project.
The entire Colombo South Harbour project will consist of three terminals and each terminal will have the capacity to handle 2.4 million TEUs once it is completed. With the construction of a new administrations building enabling SLPA to extend all its port services under one stop shop these measures will make SLPA the most dedicated arm of the national socio-economic development in the future.
[mappress]
Source: slpa, March 15, 2013