Sri Lankan Government News

Sri Lanka's largest port began on Wednesday construction of a $700 million terminal project, partly funded by India's Adani Group, an official said, marking the first foray by an Indian company into the sector. India has this year provided the most financial support to its southern neighbour, which is facing its worst economic crisis in more than seven decades. India is now keen to see long-term projects by Indian companies take off in Sri Lanka. "Dredging commenced in the morning," Upul Jayatissa, managing director of the state-run Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), told Reuters.

Sri Lanka shipbuilder Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC) said it is moving toward executing an already signed contract with Misje Eco Bulk AS to build a series of six bulk carriers, with options for up to four additional vessels. The contracts were signed in March but are scheduled to come into effect in September upon the Norwegian shipowner's final board approval.Misje is a fully owned subsidiary of Kåre Misje & Co., a family owned Norwegian company which holds a group of companies…

Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC) delivered the first ever modern Cable Laying Vessel built for Kokusai Cable Ship Co. Ltd. (KCS) Japan, on June 21, 2019. This is the biggest vessel, both in terms of length and price, ever built by Colombo Dockyard in its history, and the first ever ship built ‘in its class’ from Sri Lanka to Japan.This ship measures 113.1 x 21.5m with an 8.8 m depth, and with a maximum load laying draft of approx 7.1m has a deadweight carrying capacity of 5,757 DWT and a speed of 14.5 knots with accommodation facilities for 80 persons.This vessel is a modern…

Sri Lanka is shifting a naval base to a port built and controlled by China, it said on Monday, a move that will strengthen security at a harbor that foreign powers fear China could use for military purposes.The base currently in the tourist district of Galle will be moved 125 km (80 miles) east along Sri Lanka's southern coast to Hambantota, nearer a main shipping route between Asia and Europe.The $1.5 billion deepwater port is likely to play a major role in China's "Belt and Road" initiative and is under a 99-year lease to China Merchants Port Holdings at a cost of $1.12 billion.Government and diplomatic sources have told Reuters that the United States, India and Japan have raised concerns that China might use the port as a naval base.The Sri Lankan government and Chinese embassy in Colom

China Merchants Port Holdings has made a $584 million payment as part of a $1.12 billion deal to operate Sri Lanka's deep sea Hambantota port, a state-run agency said on Wednesday.Under the deal, signed in July 2017, China Merchants Port (CM Port) will run the $1.5 billion Chinese-built port on a 99-year lease. The $1.12 billion total price is to be used to reduce the Sri Lankan government's debt to China."With this payment, CM Port fulfils the $976 million investment ... CM Port has agreed to deposit a further sum of $146 million being investment to be utilized for port and marine-related activities," the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) said in a statement.The port is near the main shipping route from Asia to Europe and likely to play a major role in China's "Belt and Road" initiative.

The leader of Shipbuilding Industry in Sri Lanka Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC) has successfully secured a contract with Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC) of Japan to build two vessels; Pilot Station Vessel and Buoy Tender Vessel, for General Company for Port of Iraq (GCPI). TTC and GCPI signed the Prime Contract on 27th April 2018 in Dubai. Subsequent to the signing of the Prime Contract, TTC signed the Sub Contract Agreement with CDPLC as TTC’s preferred Shipyard for the construction of these vessels on 2nd May 2018 in Japan. TTC is a trading and investing company which is also a group company of TOYOTA. By recognizing the potential of CDPLC, TTC decided to collaborate with CDPLC for this project to compete and submit bid proposals in response to a tender floated by GCPI in July 2017.

Sri Lanka's state-run investment body has approved a $500 million liquefied natural gas plant by China Machinery Engineering Corp near a Chinese-controlled port and industrial zone, the development strategies minister said on Friday.The state-run Board of Investment has approved investment projects worth $1 billion in the first quarter, Malik Samarawickrama said, the largest of which was the LNG project in Hambantota, where China Merchants Port Holdings controls a Chinese-built port on a 99-year lease.The port, which is leased for $1.12 billion, is near the main shipping route from Asia to Europe and likely to play a major role in China’s "belt and road" initiativeChinese control of Hambantota…

The Government of Sri Lanka approved loans to develop both the Kankesanthurai (KKS) Harbour and the northern section of the Colombo Port. For the reconstruction of the KKS harbour, a credit line agreement between the Export-Import Bank of India and the Sri Lankan Government was signed. Accordingly, a $ 45.17 million credit line from India will be used to finance the restoration of the KKS Harbour, which is to be transformed into a self-sustainable, commercial harbour. This project is line with the Government’s North-East Economic Corridor concept to develop trade in the northern and eastern ports/harbours. The restoration of the KKS…

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono has visited the port of Colombo in Sri Lanka. Kono was briefed by Sri Lankan government officials about a project under consideration to expand the port. The Japanese Foreign Minister  also visited the newly built control tower and the Colombo Port Expansion Project currently known as the Colombo south Port. Colombo is the largest port in Sri Lanka, which is a strategically important point in Indian Ocean sea lanes. Taro Kono was briefed by the Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake about the project, the consideration to expand the facility and the ‘Three Year Plan’ that has currently been initiated to develop the Port of Colombo. The Japanese government has been involved in building port facilities there for many years.

INS Shardul, which was dispatched by Southern Naval Command of India Navy with relief material to Sri Lanka has arrived in Colombo. In the wake of recent floods in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan government has asked for flood relief assistance from India. According to ANI report, India dispatched three navy ships to help in the massive rescue and relief operations launched by the island nation's triforces. Earlier on Saturday, Indian High Commissioner to Colombo Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Sri Lankan Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake received the INS Kirch packed with relief items. Apart from the aforementioned two ships, INS Jalashwa carrying victualing, clothing, medicines and water is also expected to soon reach Sri Lanka. The relief material food, water and medicines was offloaded.

Sri Lanka has rejected China's request to dock one of its submarines in Colombo this month, two senior government officials said on Thursday as the Indian prime minister landed in the island nation. Sri Lanka last allowed a Chinese submarine to dock in the capital of Colombo in October 2014, a move that triggered fierce opposition from its northern neighbour India, which worries about growing Chinese activity in a country it has long viewed as part of its area of influence. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Sri Lanka on Thursday for a two-day official visit. A senior Sri Lankan government official said China's request to dock one of its submarines in Colombo this month had been rejected.

Pirates have hijacked an oil tanker with eight Sri Lankan crew on board, Somali authorities said on Tuesday, the first time a commercial ship has been seized in the region since 2012. Security forces have been sent to free the Aris 13, a regional police official said late on Tuesday. "We are determined to rescue the ship and its crew. Our forces have set off to Alula. It is our duty to rescue ships hijacked by pirates and we shall rescue it," Abdirahman Mohamud Hassan, director general of Puntland’s marine police forces, told Reuters by phone. Puntland is a semi-autonomous northern region of Somalia. Alula is a port town there where pirates have taken the tanker. Experts said the ship was an easy target and ship owners were becoming lax after a long period of calm.

China's CCCC said on Tuesday it had approval to restart the construction of its $1.4 billion real estate project near Colombo's port that was suspended a year ago on the orders of the Sri Lankan government. Sri Lanka's cabinet last week granted approval for China Communication Construction Company (CCCC) to resume the biggest foreign direct investment project in the country after suspending it in March last year. The project includes apartments, shopping malls, a water sports area, a golf course, hotels and marinas next to Colombo's main port which India uses as a main transhipment port. "With the resumption of work now approved, the project company will commence with preparatory work as soon as feasible to ensure that the project can be completed in the expected time frame…

Sri Lankan government has approved the construction of a breakwater for a Chinese funded Colombo port city project which had been suspended by the government earlier this month. The decision was taken, following a request made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe, when the cabinet convened for its weekly meeting Wednesday evening, informs Cabinet Spokesperson and Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne. Colombo port city is Sri Lanka’s biggest foreign-financed $1.4 billion project is to reclaim land from the sea and build fancy houses on it. The 3.25 km long breakwater, an offshore barrier which protects the city from the full impact of waves. The state-owned China Communications Construction Company won the contract from the ports ministry, run by the then president, Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Sri Lanka declared that it will not allow Chinese submarines to dock in its waters as part of a new policy barring hosting of foreign submarines. Sri Lanka's new Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said on Saturday in Beijing that the new government in Colombo will not allow a repeat of last year's visits by a Chinese submarine that had raised concerns in India. Colombo acknowledged that such a docking did take place coinciding with the Japanese Prime Minister's visit last year. A Chinese submarine had visited Colombo port twice last year which had raised concerns in India. India raised the issue repeatedly with Sri Lankan government. China’s growing naval presence in the Indian Ocean region has opened a new area of rivalry for the two Asian countries.

Today (9.02.2011) for the first time in the history of local shipbuilding industry, Colombo Dockyard named a vessel which will be charted by the owner Greatship Group, for the world renowned Brazilian Oil Company PETROBRAS. The naming ceremony was graced by the Chief Guest Hon. Basil Rajapaksa Minister for Economic Development. The Lady Sponsor of the ceremony was Dr. (Mrs.) Chandrika Yapa. His Excellency Ashok Kantha High Commissioner for India in Sri Lanka, His Excellency K.