COLOMBO, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Colombo East Container Terminal (CECT), managed by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), commissioned its third berth on Friday.
SLPA Chairman Sirimevan Sarathchandra Ranasinghe said the CECT handled over 500,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2025, despite operating with incomplete infrastructure for part of the year.
With the third berth now operational, throughput is expected to rise significantly, said Ranasinghe. This will help strengthen Colombo's role as a key transshipment hub for the Indian subcontinent, Bay of Bengal, and East-West trade routes.
SLPA Managing Director Ganaka Hemachandra said the remaining jetty works are scheduled for completion by mid-February, after which the terminal will operate at full scale. The facility is aiming to process 1.5 million TEUs in 2026.
Hemachandra also noted that the collective progress of the SLPA and other terminal operators at the Port of Colombo is contributing to foreign exchange earnings, employment, and trade connectivity.
Extending approximately 1,300 meters, the CECT adds deep-water capacity and quay length to accommodate large mainline vessels with minimal tidal restrictions. The new berth is expected to ease congestion, improve vessel scheduling, and reinforce Colombo's reputation for efficient, high-volume container handling. ■
