SLPA Maritime Facilitation Centre nears completion

Monday, 30 March 2026 04:25 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

From left: Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Anura Karunathilake, SLPA Chairman Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake and Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodituwakku

Sri Lanka’s port sector is set for a major administrative upgrade, with the new Maritime Facilitation Centre (MFC) of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) in Colombo Fort now nearing completion, following delays triggered by the pandemic and the economic crisis.

The 19-storey building, rising at the Canal Yard premises, was initiated in July 2021 after several SLPA structures were removed to facilitate the development of the Colombo Port City and the Intra-Port Expressway. Originally scheduled for completion within two years, construction has now reached around 75% progress.

Backed by financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the project carries an investment of approximately Rs. 5 billion and $ 2 million. Once completed, the 35,000-square-metre complex is designed to resemble a sailing ship, symbolising Sri Lanka’s maritime heritage and ambitions.

Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Anura Karunathilake, Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodituwakku, and SLPA Chairman Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake inspected the site during a recent observation tour, as the Government moves to align port infrastructure with broader logistics and urban development plans centred on Colombo’s evolving maritime hub.

The new headquarters is strategically located in close proximity to key service providers, including Sri Lanka Customs, Sri Lanka Telecom, and major commercial banks, enabling port users to access essential services with greater convenience. Its central location near the Colombo Fort Railway Station and the main bus terminal is also expected to significantly ease daily commuting for staff.

Nearly 1,600 employees from 24 departments of the SLPA are expected to be consolidated within the complex, improving operational coordination and efficiency within the port authority.

Construction is being carried out by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation and China Railway Group, with the project scheduled for completion and handover by the end of 2026.