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East Container Terminal: Cranes to cost $ 300 m

15 Jan 2022

  • $ 100 m already spent on construction
By Skandha Gunasekara The cranes ordered for the East Container Terminal (ECT) of the Colombo Port will cost $ 300 million, The Sunday Morning learns. The ECT is expected to be completed in 2024 at a cost of $ 600 million. Responding to a query, Ministry of Ports and Shipping Secretary U. Jayalal said that procurement of the cranes for the terminal alone would cost $ 300 million. “We are getting 12 ships to shore cranes and 40 cranes for container handling. They will cost $ 300 million,” Jayalal said, adding that another $ 300 million cost would be incurred for construction-related expenses in establishing them on the terminal. Jayalal said that of the $ 300 million assigned for construction, $ 200 million would be spent for civil construction of the ECT and $ 100 million had already been spent on construction thus far. He said the new terminal would allow larger ships to dock at the port while also increasing container traffic at the port. “The ECT has a depth of 20 metres, which will enable larger ships to visit the port. It will reduce congestion as well,” Jayalal opined. The Government last year cancelled a previous Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Sri Lanka, India, and Japan to jointly develop the ECT. The controversial move strained relations between the three countries, adding to investor concern about Sri Lanka honouring international commitments.  


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