The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) celebrated its 45th anniversary yesterday (1 August 2024) at its Chaithya Road premises with religious activities. The event was spearheaded by the Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation, Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva.
The SLPA, established on 1 August 1979, owes its inception to the late Minister of Ports, Hon. Lalith Athulathmudali. Since then, the SLPA has overseen the development of all commercial ports in Sri Lanka, with the Port of Colombo emerging as a significant global container port. The Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) was notably the first container terminal in South Asia.
Recent advancements include the establishment of six Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes at the Colombo East Container Terminal (CECT), boosting SLPA’s market share and enhancing the JCT’s capacity to handle larger TEU vessels.
Minister, reflecting on the anniversary, honoured the late Hon. Lalith Athulathmudali and emphasised the importance of adopting public-private partnerships and embracing global competition despite political challenges.
A blood donation campaign was also held in conjunction with the anniversary celebrations. The event saw participation from SLPA Chairman Keith D. Bernard, Vice Chairman Gayan Algewattege, Managing Director Prabath J. Malavige, and other executive staff and employees.
