Phase III of the Eastern Container Terminal (ECT) of the Colombo Port officially commenced operations today, marking a major milestone in the government’s programme to strengthen the port as a leading regional shipping hub.
According to the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation, the completion of Phase III brings the total constructed length of the terminal to 1,090 metres out of the planned 1,300 metres, while 82 percent of the remaining construction work has also been completed. With the opening of this phase, the Eastern Container Terminal will now be capable of handling three container vessels simultaneously.
The inauguration was marked by the arrival of a container vessel belonging to the CMA CGM Group, which is currently undergoing container operations at the terminal.
In 2025, the Eastern Container Terminal handled over 500,000 container movements. With the commencement of operations of the newly opened terminal section, container handling capacity at the ECT is expected to exceed 1.5 million container movements in 2026. This development is set to further enhance the status of the Colombo Port as a leading re-export hub in the South Asian region.
The Ministry stated that the successful implementation of the project reflects efficient port development aligned with the new government’s policies, improved administration, and increased employee participation, contributing significantly to national economic development.
The event was attended by Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman Admiral Sirimevan Ranasinghe (Retd.), Vice Chairman Engineer Herath M. Jayawardena, Managing Director Ganaka Hemachandra, senior officials of the Ports Authority, and trade union representatives.
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