CICT wins AFLAS Award for 10th consecutive year

From left: CICT Chief Commercial Officer Catriona Jayasundera and CEO  Jan Zhang with AFLAS host with the 10th award

• Sri Lankan terminal becomes the first to secure a decade of consecutive wins in its category, reaffirming Colombo’s position as a leading regional transshipment hub

Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT) has been named Best Container Terminal – Asia (Under 4 million TEUs) at the 2026 Asian Freight, Logistics and Supply Chain (AFLAS) Awards, becoming the first terminal to secure the prestigious title for 10 consecutive years. 

The achievement reinforces CICT’s standing among Asia’s leading container terminals while further strengthening Colombo’s position as a premier regional transhipment hub.

The award was presented at the AFLAS Awards ceremony held on 24 June 2026 in Shanghai, where leading freight, logistics and supply chain organisations from across the Asia-Pacific region were recognised for excellence in service, operational performance, innovation and customer satisfaction.

The milestone reflects a decade of consistent recognition from customers and industry stakeholders across the region, affirming CICT’s reputation as a trusted gateway for global shipping lines and cargo owners serving South Asia and the Indian Ocean.

CICT Chief Executive Officer Jan Zhang said: “Winning the AFLAS Award for the 10th consecutive year is a significant achievement not only for CICT, but also for Sri Lanka’s maritime industry. This recognition reflects a decade of consistent performance, customer confidence and operational excellence. It is also a testament to the strategic leadership and strong support of China Merchants Port Group, together with the continued guidance and partnership of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. Together, we have built a terminal that continues to set high standards in operational excellence, service quality and innovation while strengthening Colombo’s competitiveness as a leading maritime hub in the region. As global supply chains continue to evolve, we remain committed to investing in technology, people and sustainable development to create greater value for our customers and stakeholders.”

Hosted annually by Asia Cargo News, the AFLAS Awards are among the freight and logistics industry’s most respected accolades. Winners are selected through a rigorous three-stage process comprising industry nominations, technical evaluation and final voting by freight forwarders, logistics professionals, shippers and supply chain stakeholders from across Asia and the Pacific.

Since commencing full operations in 2014, CICT has grown from handling approximately 680,000 TEUs in its first year to processing more than 3 million TEUs annually, making it one of South Asia’s largest and most efficient container terminals. Today, the terminal handles a significant share of the Port of Colombo’s container throughput and plays a pivotal role in sustaining Colombo’s position as one of the Indian Ocean’s leading transhipment hubs. 

As a member enterprise of China Merchants Port Group and a landmark public-private partnership with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, CICT combines international port management expertise with Sri Lanka’s maritime strengths to operate one of South Asia’s most advanced deep-water container terminals. The continued strategic leadership of China Merchants Port Group and the guidance and partnership of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority have been instrumental in driving CICT’s sustained operational excellence, long-term growth and international competitiveness.

CICT’s world-class infrastructure includes an 18-metre-deep quay, 1,200 metres of berth length, 14 quay cranes and 46 electric RTG cranes. Supported by strong quay crane productivity, high operational efficiency and competitive vessel handling performance, the terminal accommodates some of the world’s largest container vessels while delivering reliable, efficient and customer-focused service.

As part of its long-term development strategy, CICT continues to advance its smart port transformation through investments in equipment electrification, digitalisation and AI-enabled operational improvements. These initiatives are enhancing productivity, optimising asset utilisation, improving energy efficiency and strengthening service reliability, while supporting the terminal’s sustainability objectives and its ability to meet the evolving needs of global shipping lines and cargo owners.

The latest AFLAS recognition not only celebrates CICT’s sustained commitment to operational excellence, innovation and customer service, but also reflects the growing competitiveness of Sri Lanka’s maritime and logistics sector and the success of the long-standing partnership between China Merchants Port Group and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority in positioning Colombo as one of the Indian Ocean’s leading transhipment hubs.

CICT is a joint venture between China Merchants Port Holdings Company Ltd., and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). Developed under the Colombo South Harbour Expansion Project on a 35-year Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) agreement, CICT operates South Asia’s first deep-water container terminal capable of handling the world’s largest container vessels.