Friday Oct 02, 2026
Friday Oct 02, 2026
Friday, 2 October 2026 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya (third from left) being presented with a memento at the ceremony to mark the 2.2 million TEU achievement by Colombo West International Terminal and launch of its second phase on Wednesday. Others (from left): CWIT CEO Munish Kanwar, Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha, Adani Ports and SEZ CEO Ashwani Gupta, SLPA Chairman Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake, and JKH Chairperson Krishan Balendra
By Nisthar Cassim
The Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) on Wednesday celebrated a double milestone – the commissioning of its second phase and handling of more than 2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). Phase 2 doubles the Terminal’s handling capacity to 3.2 million TEUs from 1.6 million.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya was the Chief Guest at the grand celebrations, along with CWIT investors Adani Ports and SEZ CEO Ashwani Gupta, John Keells Holdings (JKH) Chairperson Krishan Balendra, Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Chairman Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake, and Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha, among others.
The deep-water container terminal was built by a partnership between the SLPA, JKH, and Adani Ports and SEZ at an investment of about $ 750 million for the entire project.
Dr. Amarasuriya said the CWIT’s milestone comes at an important time as the Government works to strengthen Sri Lanka’s economy and position the country as a competitive and attractive destination for productive and sustainable investment.
“The development taking place around us today is also a reminder of the opportunities that exist in Sri Lanka,” she added.
Noting that Sri Lanka is strategically located at the centre of the Indian Ocean, close to some of the world’s busiest maritime routes, the Prime Minister stressed that the task now is to translate these advantages into sustained investment, employment, exports, innovation, and economic growth.
“This is the central objective of our Government. Our development agenda is focused on building a productive, competitive, and resilient economy. We aim to strengthen our export capacity, attract sustainable investment, create employment opportunities, develop skills and technology, and improve Sri Lanka’s integration into regional and global markets,” she explained.
In that context, the Prime Minister said the port sector as a whole has a significant role to play.
It was emphasised that the additional capacity provided through the CWIT contributes to the overall container handling capacity of Port of Colombo and its ability to respond to the changing demands of global shipping.
“However, our vision must extend beyond expanding port capacity alone. The true value of infrastructure must ultimately be measured by how effectively it contributes to the wider economy,” she stressed.
In her speech, Dr. Amarasuriya also acknowledged several important features of the CWIT and its emphasis on automation and digital technology, automated ship-to-shoe and yard prints, electric internal terminal vehicles, terminal operating systems, optical character recognition, and real-time monitoring systems.
“This is important for Sri Lanka because our ambition cannot be limited to increasing physical capacity. We must simultaneously develop the technological, professional, and human capabilities required to operate modern infrastructure efficiently,” she added.
The Prime Minister also stressed that Sri Lanka’s economic future will also depend on the ability to build strong and mutually beneficial relationships with regional and international partners.
“India remains one of Sri Lanka’s most important neighbours, trusted partners, and economic collaborators. There remains considerable potential to expand economic cooperation in ways that generate mutual benefits while respecting the priorities and interests of both countries. As we continue along our economic recovery and transformation, our focus must be on making Sri Lanka a country that can compete effectively in the global economy,” she pointed out.
“As we mark and celebrate the achievement of 2 million TEUs and the completion of the CWIT, we should also look ahead to the future of Sri Lanka’s maritime economy. That future will depend on our ability to combine our strategic geographical low position with modern infrastructure, technology, skilled human resources, efficient institutions, and access to international markets,” the Prime Minister emphasised.
Adani Ports and SEZ CEO Ashwani Gupta in his remarks said Colombo’s strengths are exceptional and included an established transhipment ecosystem, outstanding connectivity, a high-skilled maritime workforce, and decades of trust with the world’s leading shipping line.
“Our commitment is not major in years alone; it is major by our determination to build an asset that remains firmly rooted in Sri Lanka while serving the global commerce. This project also embedded the enduring friendship between India and Sri Lanka, two neighbours connected by history, by culture, by commerce, and a shared ocean,” Gupta said.
He said that 1,000 Sri Lankan professionals operate, engineer, maintain, and manage the CWIT and identified their knowledge, capability, and leadership as one of the CWIT’s greatest contributions to Sri Lanka’s maritime future.
In his speech, Gupta also quoted Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani’s reiteration that the “greatest infrastructure does not simply move, but it scales up economies, creates opportunities, and transforms lives.” Gupta said the CWIT was built in that spirit.
“For centuries, Sri Lanka has connected civilisations across the Indian Ocean. Today, this beautiful island nation is providing the world access to an ocean of opportunities, literally and figuratively. Its capital, Colombo, is becoming one of the most influential maritime gateways, and the CWIT is geared to multiply this transformation,” Gupta added.
Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha said: “As a High Commissioner, I have attended many ceremonies. Some have ribbons. Some have lamps. Very few have 2 million containers. Today does. To put it simply, we are here to celebrate a landmark achievement of excellence. Phase 2 is commissioned. The 2 million TEU mark is crossed. And it has happened in record time.”
Jha described it as one of the most significant infrastructure investments in Sri Lanka’s maritime sector in recent years, and said the 2 million TEU mark had been reached in record time.
“Major global shipping lines have placed their confidence here. Now, shipping lines are not known for sentiment. They go where the efficiency is,” Jha said.
“India and Sri Lanka are already joined by the sea. A large part of the cargo moving through Colombo has an Indian connection. As the Indian economy grows, that link will only get stronger. We hope Colombo Port will be a key partner in that journey, especially through its wider partnerships with the Indian ecosystem: our ports, our investors, our logistics companies and our exporters,” he said.
“2 million TEUs is a proud milestone. But I see it as a mile marker, not a finish line. There is more road ahead. And I am glad we are walking it together,” emphasised Jha.
The ceremony was also addressed by Ports and Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka, JKH Chairperson Krishan Balendra, and CWIT CEO Munish Kanwar, whilst Ports and Aviation Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku was also present along with heads of Sri Lanka Customs, shipping agents, and business leaders.
