SLPA marks record output

by Shirajiv SIRIMANE

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), for the first time in the history of port operations in the island, exceeded its monthly throughput volume of 200,000 TEUs last August. This also records a milestone in Sri Lanka's journey towards becoming maritime hub.

It is especially commendable as the port has achieved this progressive status amidst hardships pertaining to the use of port equipment which are over 25 years old-With the handling of 201,217 TEUs during last August, the SLPA has achieved a growth of 22 percent, compared to the same period of last year.

Meanwhile, the Port of Colombo has handled 360,973 TEUs in August, a 10 percent growth over the same period last year. From January to August 2010, the SLPA has handled 1,392,959 TEUs. During the same period of 2009, it handled 1,126,511 TEUs. The growth for this period is 24 percent in the handling of TEUs by the SLPA. The Port of Colombo handled a total of 2,735,898 TEUs from January to August this year, against a total of 2,257,026 TEUs handled during the same period in 2009, a record growth of 21 percent.

Currently, the SLPA handles 24 main line and 14 feeder operators, and with the continuous improvements over the past years, it is expected to reach the 10 million TEU mark by 2020.