The construction of the second phase of the Eastern Terminal of the Colombo Port will commence today under the patronage of President H.E. Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa.
With the planned construction beginning today, the length of the Eastern Terminal will increase to 1,320 meters letting the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) to handle the biggest ever container transporting vessels, Ports Minister Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardena said.
The Minister was addressing media along with SLPA Chairman and other representatives of the SLPA at the Government Information Department in Colombo yesterday.
The construction of the Eastern Terminal, which expands on a 75 hectare land extent, has been scheduled to complete on July 4, 2024. Once completed, the terminal will consist of 12 giant cranes and 40 normal cranes.
Minister Abeygunawardena said that the construction will be carried out with using local funds and it may around US$ 1 billion costs to construct a complete terminal.
“An extent of 420 meters of the Eastern Terminal has already been completed so far. Once completed the terminal, which will be 1,320 meters in length, contributes the SLPA to handle 14 million BTU annually. At present the SLPA handles 7 million BTU annually,” the Minister said.
