Sri Lanka Ports Authority

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Sri Lanka Ports Authority

This is the official page of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority The specified Port now includes Colombo, Galle, Trincomalee, Kankasanturai and Point Pedru.
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The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) was set up by an Act of Parliament in 1979 and administers and operates all specified commercial Ports in Sri Lanka. The Port of Colombo being the premier Port in the country has naturally become the focal point of the all Port development activities in Sri Lanka since the formation of the SLPA. However, as a consequent of the Government policy to develop the r

egional areas in the country, the SLPA attaches equal emphasis on the development of Ports of Galle , Trincomalee, Kankasanthurai , Point Pedru and a new Port at Hambantota.

01/08/2026

Today, we celebrate the forty-seventh anniversary of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

Forty-seven years ago, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority embarked upon a voyage that has since become inseparable from the story of our nation's commerce and its engagement with the wider world. Every berth constructed, every vessel received, every container handled, and every challenge overcome has added another charted mile to a journey shaped not by a single generation, but by thousands of hands working with quiet purpose across the decades. Our ports have witnessed times of prosperity, periods of uncertainty, technological transformation, and shifting currents in global trade, yet they have remained places where ambition meets opportunity and where Sri Lanka greets the world. As we commemorate this anniversary, we pay tribute to those whose names may never appear in reports or headlines, yet whose labour, judgement, endurance, and sense of duty transformed plans into infrastructure, aspirations into achievements, and a national institution into one of the country's most enduring strategic assets. We remember with deep respect colleagues who are no longer with us, and we acknowledge every individual whose personal sacrifices, long hours, and dedication have become part of the unseen foundations upon which the Sri Lanka Ports Authority continues to stand.

This anniversary belongs equally to our employees, retirees, customers, shipping lines, logistics partners, government institutions, and every stakeholder who has travelled this course alongside us. The confidence you have placed in the Sri Lanka Ports Authority has been the wind in our sails through both favourable seas and testing weather, reminding us that no port thrives in isolation and no voyage is completed by a single crew alone. As international trade continues to redraw the maritime map, our responsibility is not merely to keep pace with change, but to help shape the future of Sri Lanka's maritime economy with foresight, discipline, and a genuine commitment to service—not because it is expected of us, but because it defines who we are. While we honour forty-seven remarkable years, our gaze remains fixed beyond the horizon, determined to leave behind a stronger institution than the one we inherited, so that those who one day mark its centenary will look back upon this generation as faithful custodians who kept the harbour secure, the channels open, and the course true.

24/06/2026

Mr Jesper Stenbak, Senior Vice President ADRO of CMA CGM, and Ms Christine Cabau, Executive Vice President of CMA CGM, accompanied by Mr Eric Daniel Van Den Driesen, Country General Manager of CMA CGM Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, and Mr Pasan Periyapperuma, Deputy General Manager – Operations and Logistics of CMA CGM Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, visited the Port of Colombo on 24 June 2026. During their visit, the delegation was provided with a comprehensive tour of the port, covering all major terminals and operational facilities, offering an overview of the Port of Colombo’s capabilities, infrastructure, and ongoing developments.

As part of the programme, the delegation also visited the Pilot Station, where they were briefed on pilotage operations and the critical role they play in ensuring the safe and efficient navigation of vessels within the Port of Colombo. The briefing was conducted by senior officials of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, including Mr U. Kumara, Director – Marketing and Business Development. The visit provided an opportunity for productive discussions on port operations, service excellence, and future opportunities for collaboration, further strengthening the longstanding partnership between the Port of Colombo and CMA CGM.

23/06/2026

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority welcomed S. Paul Kapur to the Port of Colombo yesterday, in the presence of SLPA Chairman Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake. Mr Kapur, who leads the United States’ diplomatic engagement with South and Central Asia as the Assistant Secretary of State, visited the Port of Colombo to explore areas where stronger economic cooperation between the two countries can translate into real commercial opportunities.

The discussions moved beyond broad cooperation and focused on practical areas including trade facilitation, investment potential, and the future role of Colombo as a strategic maritime and logistics hub. The visit reaffirmed the Port of Colombo’s position as a vital link in regional supply chains and highlighted the value of closer collaboration between Sri Lanka and the United States in supporting growth, connectivity, and shared economic interests.

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority continues to pursue partnerships that strengthen operational capability, attract investment, and position Colombo as a competitive port serving global trade flows.

16/06/2026

Beneath the quiet embrace of the night, Colombo Port shines as a timeless gateway between oceans and dreams.

27/05/2026

Viewpoint: When Ports Think: The Rise of AI-Driven Maritime Systems
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Predictive analytics, digital twins, and generative AI are shifting ports from reactive operations to real-time decision engines.
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South Asia’s seaports form the circulatory system of one of the world’s fastest-growing economic regions. India alone routes more than 95 percent of its international trade volume through maritime channels, yet logistics costs hover near 13 to 14 percent of GDP — nearly double the OECD average — while vessel turnaround times remain elevated and hinterland bottlenecks regularly nullify efficiency won at the terminal gate. Rapid port expansion has exposed a deeper structural gap: not a shortage of berths, but a shortage of operational intelligence. Converting South Asia’s natural geographic advantage into sustained trade competitiveness now demands a decisive shift from basic digitisation to AI-driven decision-making across the entire maritime supply chain.

Read Full Text of this viewpoint here, https://news.slpa.lk/index.php/2026/05/27/when-ports-think-the-rise-of-ai-driven-maritime-systems/

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20/05/2026

The Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Mr. Nurlan Yermekbayev, currently undertaking an official visit to Sri Lanka, today visited the Port of Colombo, where he was received by senior officials of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and relevant government representatives.

During the visit, he was briefed on ongoing port development initiatives, capacity enhancement programmes, and operational efficiency measures aimed at further consolidating Colombo’s position as the busiest transshipment hub in the Indian Ocean region. The delegation also visited the Pilot Station and received an overview of port navigation and vessel traffic management operations. Discussions further covered maritime logistics, infrastructure modernisation, and opportunities to strengthen connectivity and institutional cooperation in line with Sri Lanka’s broader economic development objectives and trade facilitation priorities.

The Secretariat of the SCO, based in Beijing. Established in 2001 in Shanghai, the SCO is a Eurasian multilateral organisation focused on regional security, economic cooperation, trade, and connectivity among its member states, including China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and several Central Asian countries.

13/05/2026

Maersk Engages SLPA on Terminal Productivity in Colombo

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Delegates from Maersk met with senior officials of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority today at the SLPA Headquarters, Port of Colombo, to discuss operational performance and future collaboration relating to Maersk vessel and terminal activities in Colombo. The Maersk delegation included Mr Karan Tariyal, Head of Hubs – Maersk Dubai (TbM Operations – IMEA), Mr Biju Ravi, Country Manager – Sri Lanka & Maldives, and Mr Thilina Perera, Port Captain / Port Ex*****on Lead – Colombo. Representing SLPA were Dr Parakrama Dissanayake, Chairman, Eng. Herath M. P. Jayawardhana, Vice Chairman, Eng. Ganaka Hemachandra, Managing Director, and Mr Prabath J. Malavige, Additional Managing Director – Operations, together with other senior officials. Discussions focused on existing operational constraints affecting vessel turnaround, berth planning, schedule reliability, and transshipment coordination, including Inter-terminal Trucking (ITT) operations, as well as overall port ex*****on efficiency within the Port of Colombo.

The meeting further emphasised the strategic importance of the Port of Colombo within Maersk’s regional network across the Indian Subcontinent, Middle East, and Africa corridor. Both parties discussed the need for continued operational enhancement, stronger terminal coordination, faster response mechanisms, and improved handling efficiency to support increasing cargo volumes and maintain Colombo’s position as a key regional transshipment hub with strong operational strength. Maersk remains one of the world’s largest integrated shipping and logistics operators, with a global container fleet capacity exceeding four million TEUs and extensive connectivity across major international East–West and intra-Asia trade routes, reinforcing Colombo’s role as a strategically important node within its global shipping network.

29/04/2026

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Unifeeder Lanka (Pvt) Ltd have entered into a Terminal Service Agreement valid until 2028, setting out defined terms for terminal services at the Port of Colombo. The signing was attended by Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake (Chairman), Eng. Herath M. P. Jayawardhana (Vice Chairman), and Eng. Ganaka Hemachandra (Managing Director) on behalf of the SLPA, together with other senior officials. The agreement establishes a clear service framework covering handling, coordination, and performance parameters within one of the region’s principal maritime gateways.

Representing Unifeeder Lanka, Mr. Sanjay Marasinghe (Branch Head / Director), Mr. Sumedha Perera (Senior General Manager – Commercial), and Mr. Thamira Jayasuriya (Assistant General Manager – Operations) executed the agreement. The term through 2028 provides continuity for service planning, with focus placed on schedule integrity, terminal interface efficiency, and consistent support for feeder operations. The arrangement is positioned to sustain throughput reliability and maintain Colombo’s standing in intra-Asia shipping networks without recourse to short-term contracting cycles.

Address

No 19, Chaithya Road
Colombo
00100

Telephone

+94112421231

Website

http://www.slpa.lk/, https://mpma.slpa.lk/, https://news.slpa.lk/

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