Adani Ports Says Operations Commence At Colombo West International Terminal

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd announced on Monday that operations commenced at its Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT). The terminal, located at the port of Colombo, was developed under a public-private partnership and is operated by a consortium including Adani Ports, John Keells Holdings PLC, and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, under a 35-year Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) agreement.

Construction on the terminal began in 2022 and the project includes an investment of $800 million. It features a 1,400-metre quay length and 20-metre depth, and has the capacity to handle approximately 3.2 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) annually. The company said that this is the first deep-water terminal in Colombo which is fully automated and is designed to help boost cargo handling capacity. 

Gautam Adani, Chairman, Adani Group, said, “The commencement of operations at CWIT marks a momentous milestone in regional cooperation between India and Sri Lanka. Not only does this terminal represent the future of trade in the Indian Ocean but its opening is also a proud moment for Sri Lanka, placing it firmly on the global maritime map. The CWIT project will create thousands of direct and indirect jobs locally and unlock immense economic value for the island nation. It also stands as a shining example of the deep-rooted friendship and growing strategic ties between the two neighbours, and of what can be achieved through visionary public–private partnerships. Delivering this world-class facility in record time also reflects the Adani Group’s proven ability to efficiently execute large-scale critical infrastructure projects anywhere in the world.”

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Krishan Balendra, Chairperson, John Keells Group, commented, “We are proud to see the progress in the development of the West Container Terminal, a project that strengthens Sri Lanka’s position as a regional maritime hub.” He added that this is one of the largest investments for the Sri Lankan conglomerate. “Together with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and the Adani Group, we will elevate Colombo’s status as a leading transshipment hub. We are confident that the project will enhance global trade and connectivity in the region,” the official stated.

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