Maersk Line strengthens ties with SLPA terminals with three-year deal

Tuesday, 26 August 2025 03:28 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

SLPA Chairman Admiral (Retd.) Sirimevan Ranasinghe, Vice Chairman Eng. Herath Jayawardhana, Managing Director Eng. Ganaka Hemachandra, Additional Managing Director – Operations Lal Weerasinghe, Director – Operations Zavia Miskin, Director – Marketing and BD H.J.K.U. Kumara, Chief Law Officer Aparna Tilakaratne, and other officials at the event. The Maersk delegation comprises Head of Operations – Indian Subcontinent, Middle East and Africa Zsanett Balla, Head of Terminal and Ocean Procurement – India and the Middle East Nishish Saxena, Maersk Lanka Country Manager Biju Ravi, and Port Execution Lead – Colombo Thilina Udayanga Perera

In a significant step towards strengthening Sri Lanka’s position as a regional maritime hub, Maersk Line has signed a three-year Terminal Service Agreement (TSA) with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).

The agreement is expected to foster business growth, enhance operational efficiency, and pave the way for stronger collaboration between the global shipping leader and Sri Lanka’s premier port operator, the SLPA said in a statement.

Through this partnership, Maersk Line will continue to utilise SLPA terminals for its regional operations, benefitting from Colombo’s strategic location at the crossroads of major East-West shipping routes. The TSA reflects Maersk’s confidence in the service quality and operational standards maintained by the SLPA, while also reinforcing Port of Colombo’s (POC) status as a key transshipment hub in South Asia.

Officials from both sides highlighted that the agreement will not only ensure greater service reliability but also contribute to long-term growth prospects with the upcoming Colombo East Container Terminal (CECT) development. Once fully operational, the CECT is expected to significantly enhance capacity and efficiency, offering shipping lines, including Maersk, expanded opportunities to scale up operations.

At the moment, the POC is equipped with the CECT, Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT), and Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) 1 to cater to the needs of Maersk’s calibre vessels, which guarantee schedule reliability.

The partnership demonstrates the growing trust between the SLPA and international shipping lines, positioning Colombo as a preferred port of call in the region. Industry stakeholders expect this collaboration to generate new prospects for trade facilitation, job creation, and improved competitiveness for Sri Lanka in the global maritime sector.