Aug 04, Colombo: Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa today toured the Colombo Port to inspect the progress of the Colombo Port Expansion Project (CPEP) and advised the officials to expedite the ongoing construction work.

The President, who also holds the portfolio of Ports and Aviation Minister, advised to start the construction work of the proposed project before the end of this year. Instructions were given to remove all used/old vehicles alongside the port area.

While appreciating the present progress and the productivity of the container movement, President Rajapaksa directed the authorities to make arrangements to utilize the railway facility to transport containers to minimize the city traffic congestion.

The CPEP was launched in 2006 at a cost of Rs. 35 billion. The Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA) says this is the largest ever mega-infrastructure development project undertaken by Sri Lanka.

The Project involves dredging and breakwater construction sufficient to accommodate three terminals, to be constructed sequentially. The Project includes the establishment of a new marine operations center, relocation of a submarine oil pipeline, provision of navigational aids, and construction of shore utilities.

The CPEP allows Sri Lanka to meet increasing demands of services in the international shipping industry in the Indian Ocean.

The Colombo port is a major port in the Asian region. It is situated on a major shipping route between east and west. City

Deputy Ministers of Ministry of Ports and Aviation Dayashritha Tissera and Rohitha Abeygunawardana, Secretary of the Ministry, the Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama and some of the Board Members participated in the visit.

(Pictures by Chandana Perera)