Minister of Ports Rohitha Abeygunawardena says India’s Adani Company is due to commence operations at the West Container Terminal of the Colombo Port by January next year.
The Minister said the Sri Lanka Ports Authority is scheduled to complete work on the East Container Terminal by January.
Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena speaking in Parliament during the debate on the Expenditure Heads of the Ministry of Ports said the tender process commenced in March 2021 adding state employees carried out the process amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister Abegunawardhana said initial approval required for civil procedures has been granted adding a Cabinet Paper will be submitted on Monday for approval for the process to bring down cranes.
The Minister assured that construction of the East Terminal will be completed by January while the completed terminal will be vested for future generations within the span of two and half years.
He said under the first phase six cranes will be imported in April 2023, 20 cranes will be brought down in June 2023, nine in December 2023 while the fourth and fifth phases will be completed in June 2024 and December 2024 respectively.
