The Colombo East Container Terminal (CECT) of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) reached a major operational milestone today with the commissioning of its third berth at the Port of Colombo, significantly enhancing the terminal’s handling capacity and operational flexibility.
The event was attended by senior representatives of leading global shipping lines, including Maersk, CMA CGM and MSC, underscoring continued commercial confidence in Colombo’s capabilities as a regional transhipment hub. The carriers expressed satisfaction with recent improvements in berth productivity, yard management and vessel turnaround times, while reaffirming their intention to deepen collaboration with the Authority-managed terminal alongside privately operated facilities within the port.
Addressing the gathering, Admiral Sirimevan Ranasinghe (Retd.), Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, thanked the shipping lines for their sustained engagement and long-standing institutional partnerships with the SLPA. He noted that the Colombo East Container Terminal handled over 500,000 TEUs in 2025, despite operating with partially completed infrastructure for a significant part of the year. With the third berth now operational, he said throughput volumes are expected to rise substantially, further consolidating Colombo’s role as a key transhipment centre for the Indian subcontinent, the Bay of Bengal and East–West mainline trade.
Managing Director Eng. Ganaka Hemachandra described the commissioning as a collective achievement that strengthens the port’s operational depth and technical capability. He stated that jetty construction works are scheduled for full completion by mid-February, following which all systems will be fully integrated to enable the terminal to operate at full scale. This, he added, positions CECT to target an ambitious throughput of 1.5 million TEUs within the year.
He also highlighted the broader contribution of the Port of Colombo’s integrated terminal ecosystem—comprising both SLPA-run and private terminals—to the national economy through foreign exchange earnings, job creation and improved trade connectivity.
Spanning approximately 1,300 metres of quay length, the Colombo East Container Terminal provides deep-water capability to accommodate large mainline vessels with minimal tidal restrictions. Strategically located close to major east–west shipping lanes, the Port of Colombo continues to leverage modern handling equipment and a diversified terminal mix under a unified port framework.
The commissioning of the third berth is expected to ease congestion, optimise vessel distribution across terminals and further reinforce Colombo’s reputation as a reliable, high-volume container handling hub. Concluding the event, the Managing Director commended the dedication of the SLPA workforce and acknowledged the cooperative spirit among terminal operators, noting that shared responsibility remains central to sustaining Colombo’s competitive edge in regional and global trade.
