Minister Ratnayaka inspects construction of SLPA’s new Maritime Facilitation Centre

Tuesday, 9 July 2019 00:28 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Ports, Shipping and Southern Development Minister Sagala Ratnayaka, SLPA Chairman Kavan Ratnayaka, Managing Director Capt. Athula Hewavitharana, Additional Managing Director Upali D. Zoysa, directors and a number of higher officials of the management during the tour of inspection in Canal Yard, Colombo

Construction site of the new Maritime Facilitation Centre of SLPA

Ports, Shipping and Southern Development Minister Sagala Ratnayaka has made a field visit to inspect the construction of the new Administrative Building (Maritime Facilitation Centre) of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) yesterday. SLPA will be setting up its new 17-storey head office building at a cost of Rs. 5 billion scheduled for completion in two years.

The Minister said that the development of the Port of Colombo has been delayed in recent past which has caused a major economic loss to the country. He said that the speedy completion of proposed constructions would also increase the efficiency of the Port and address road traffic congestion.

Meanwhile, construction of a new port access road from Ingurukade at a cost of Rs. 26 billion is scheduled for completion in three years. It is significant that all these projects are to be carried out by the Road Development Authority (RDA) with the assistance of Sri Lankan engineers and local construction companies.

Minister Ratnayaka further said that these projects, Maritime Facilitation Centre building and port access road, will be a great benefit to the Port of Colombo as well as the country.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has secured financial assistance for these projects.

SLPA Chairman Kavan Ratnayaka, RDA Chairman Nihal Sooriarachchi, Managing Director Capt. Athula Hewavitharana, Additional Managing Director Upali D. Zoysa, directors and a number of higher officials of the management of SLPA and RDA also joined the inspection visit in Canal Yard.