- To be expanded to 2.5 m TEUs by end-2026
- Operations at ECT yet to commence
- Technical, financial feasibility studies ongoing for proposed Colombo West Terminal 2
The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has revealed plans to expand the capacity of the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) to 2.5 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) by the end of 2026.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, SLPA Chairman Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake stated that the CWIT, which is a joint venture between the Adani Group, John Keells, and the SLPA, had commenced limited function in 2025 and that they had managed to achieve a throughput of 1 million TEUs during the last financial year.
He added: “By the end of this year, the CWIT should have a capacity of around 2.5 million TEUs.”
Responding to questions on the East Container Terminal (ECT), which was initially slated to commence limited operations by end-2025, Dr. Dissanayake revealed that operations at the ECT had yet to commence and that they were working on securing the necessary straddle carriers.
Commenting on the fate of the proposed Colombo West Terminal 2, the SLPA Chairman revealed that they were carrying out the relevant technical and financial feasibility studies.
Construction of the CWIT, which is the first fully automated deep-water terminal in Colombo, commenced in 2022 and limited operations commenced in April 2025 with the opening of the first phase.
The CWIT represents an $ 840 million investment and features a 1,400-metre quay wall length and a depth of 20 metres, enabling it to handle an approximate total capacity of 3.2 million TEUs annually.
The Indian company Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. holds a 51% stake in the CWIT, John Keells owns 34%, and the SLPA the remainder.
The ECT was originally to be developed jointly by the SLPA, India, and China. However, following the collapse of the agreement between parties, the SLPA had proceeded to develop the terminal on its own in phases.
Once fully developed, the ECT will have a 1,320 metre-long and 18–20 metre-deep quay wall and 75 hectares of container stacking yard including connected services required to operate as a modern container terminal.