Pakistan Sri Lanka Friendship Magazine – September 2011

The ongoing Colombo South Harbour will be located west of the present south-west Breakwater in an area of approximately 600 hectares. The proposed harbour will have 4 terminals of over 1,200m in length each to accommodate 3 berths alongside depths of 18m and provision to deepen to 23m to accommodate deeper draft vessels in future. The channel width of the harbour is to be 560 m and depth of 20m, with harbour basin depth of 18m and a 600m turning circle.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The development of Phase-1 of the Colombo South Harbour is to be carried out in two stages. The first stage of development involves the infrastructure with public funds (US$. 300 Million) and the second stage involves terminal facilities US$. 700 Million) with private sector participation. The harbour infrastructure works. i.e., dredging, breakwater construction, and other works, have been already commenced by Hyundai Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The project will promote economic growth by improving Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s competitiveness in the port sector by expanding Colombo Port and facilitate economic growth by enhancing national competitiveness in international trade via lower transport costs and faster delivery times. Container- Handling capacity will be increased by 7.2 million TEUs on completion of all 3 terminals in the Phase-1 of the project.