Feasibility studies on the much-talked about Western Container Terminal (WCT)-2 of the Colombo Port, will commence this month and once in operation would increase the volume handled by the Port, according to Deputy Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation, Ruwan Kodituwakku.
He said the Western Terminal will have the capacity to handle around 2.5 million TEUs annually within a year of operation.
A reference to the West Container Terminals and their operations were made in the 2025 Budget presented by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake last week.
“Work on the WCT-2 will commence soon as per the Budget proposal and the need to ease congestion at the Colombo Port,” the Deputy Minister said.
It has been a turbulent start for the Colombo Port this year, compared to the early part of 2024 as transshipment volumes dropped due to persistent congestion and delays in clearing cargo. Transshipment volumes, which account for around 90 percent of the Port’s container volume declined by 6.5 percent year-on-year to 525,768 TEUs in January this year.
The West and Eastern terminal projects implemented by the Adani Group had been in the news in the recent past for withdrawing from its proposed wind farm and transmission project in the North.
Deputy Minister Kodituwakku said when completed the Eastern Container Terminal (ECT) will have a capacity to handle around three million TEUs annually.
Ports and shipping sector experts said that the ECT should have commenced operations five years ago.
According to sources many shipping lines have shown interest to partner with Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) to run the ECT but its agreement with the Adani-run West Container Terminal prevents it from doing so.
The Agreement with the Adani Group prevents the SLPA from allowing a third party to operate a new facility in the Colombo Port for seven years from the effective date of the WCT contract.
The ownership of WCT is split between Adani, John Keells Holdings and SLPA.
