Colombo (News 1st); President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said Sri Lanka can use its unique locational advantage to become one of the world’s leading maritime hubs.
President Rajapaksa pointed out development goals could be achieved speedily by developing our ports facilities by emulating the world’s most advanced ports as examples, said the President’s Media Division.
The President emphasized the need to develop Sri Lanka’s ports to a higher level that would make them capable of attracting the world’s largest cargo ships each with a capacity of 24,000 containers.
The President made these remarks during a discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat on Tuesday (15) on the future activities of the State Ministry of Warehouse Facilities, Container Yards, Port Supply Facilities and Boat and Ship Building Industry Development.
The President further said the port system should be developed to cater to the needs of international vessels plying close to the country and in parallel to these initiatives Ports in Colombo, Galle, Trincomalee, Kankesanthurai, and Oluvil should be developed.
The development of the Eastern and Western Terminals of the Colombo Port should be accelerated, the President said.
Special attention was paid to upgrade the reshipment handling capacity, offering warehouse facilities and container terminals as well as supply facilities of international standards.
It was also discussed to construct new warehouse facilities in areas such as Ratmalana, Peliyagoda, and Veyangoda to promote Colombo Port as a Transshipment Hub.
The government should intervene to construct fuel storage tanks and supply fuel to the vessels and the President authorized the construction of a docking bay in Beruwala to facilitate the launch of large boats into the sea.
“It is necessary to expand manufacturing, repairs and maintenance of ships and boats aiming the global market. The expansion of facilities to exchange naval staff centering main ports is also important’, President highlighted.
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