Saturday Oct 17, 2026
Saturday Oct 17, 2026
Saturday, 17 October 2026 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
US Ambassador Eric Meyer (left) with SLPA Chairman Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake at the Colombo Port in the presence of Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Anura Karunathilaka (extreme left)
The US will provide $ 17 million to digitise operations at the Port of Colombo, in partnership with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), aiming to cut shipping delays and costs at one of South Asia’s busiest transshipment hubs, the US Embassy in Colombo said yesterday.
The funds will help the SLPA develop two connected digital systems, the Maritime Single Window and the Port Community System. The systems will allow shipping companies, Customs, immigration authorities, port operators and businesses to share information electronically through a single platform, replacing paper-based and disconnected processes that slow down cargo clearance.
An implementing partner will be selected through an open, competitive process, with the Embassy noting that the project will create opportunities for American technology firms to supply the hardware, software and technical expertise required.
The Port of Colombo handles an estimated $ 30 billion in US-related cargo annually. US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Eric Meyer said more than half a million containers of US inbound and outbound cargo move through the port each year.
“When goods move faster and shipping costs come down, American companies are better positioned to compete and American consumers save money. This $ 17 million investment will strengthen the supply chains our economies depend on and support commercial opportunities for American technology companies,” Meyer said.
The Embassy said modern digital infrastructure would be essential as Sri Lanka expands port capacity, to manage higher cargo volumes, reduce vessel turnaround times and keep Colombo competitive as a regional maritime hub.
Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Anura Karunathilaka said Colombo’s future as a regional hub depended not only on expanding physical infrastructure but also on modernising how the port operates. “This project will help Sri Lanka improve trade facilitation, attract business and strengthen our connections to international markets,” he said.
SLPA Chairman Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake said the systems would link the many agencies and businesses involved in port operations. “These new digital systems will help us reduce unnecessary delays and provide more predictable and efficient services to shipping lines and customers,” he said.
In a post on X, Meyer said the platforms would bring shipping companies, Government agencies, port operators and businesses onto a shared digital network, adding that the project would accelerate Sri Lanka’s port modernisation and strengthen US supply chains.
