• Feasibility studies, design complete

The Government is in the final stages of negotiations with India on the proposed renovation of the Kankesanthurai (KKS) Port, with feasibility studies, design, and other major technical decisions completed.

Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku told The Sunday Morning that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) governing the project was still under negotiation between Sri Lanka and India.

“The MOU with India is still at the negotiation stage right now,” he said. 

Kodithuwakku confirmed that physical construction work on the project had not commenced yet.

“We sent the conditions and negotiations to the Attorney General’s Department and received some concepts. We have complied with those concepts and submitted them to the Indian HIgh Commission. Before the MOU is signed, matters such as verification of the conditions have to take place, which is taking place these days.”

However, the necessary preparatory work for the project has already been completed. “Feasibility studies and design have been done, and many decisions have been finalised. Now, all we have to do is sign the MOU, receive the grant, and start the work,” the Deputy Minister said.

Speaking on the proposed $ 60 million Indian grant for the project, Kodithuwakku stated that the funding remained available, even though discussions and negotiations on the implementation framework were ongoing.

“That $ 60 million is there as a grant for us. The discussions now are on how we are going to utilise the grant, what the ownership of the project will be, and what kind of partnership we are going into,” he added.