5 August 2016 12:00 am
Steps have been taken to widen the warehouse facilities in the Colombo Port. As its first move, the warehouse identified as CFS 01 is to be opened on August 10, coinciding with the 37th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA).
This warehouse, with a space of 5400 square meters, has been constructed targeting semi/full container operations and reshipment operations of shipping goods.
Sri Lanka Port Authority Director Service Supplies Upali De Soysa said that with the construction of this warehouse they hope to widen facilities available for internal semi/full container operations and to provide more facilities for the shipping goods coming under the reshipment operations. New advanced technology had been used in the construction of this new warehouse and the SLPA is hoping to reap plenty of dividends from this new venture.
In a sudden fire that erupted during May in 2013, the main container operation centre of the Colombo Port was completely destroyed and the SLPA was confronted with severe difficulties in the container operations and as a solution to this problem, extension of warehouse facilities was launched under the direction of the present Chairman Dammika Ranathunga.
It is worthy of mentioning that the construction of this warehouse was undertaken completely by the Contracts and Planning Unit of the SLPA, thereby saving a large amount of money to the authority.
It is revealed that there are 25 units in the port and Ports and Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga has instructed to use the capabilities of these units to the maximum towards the advancement of the port. He has also instructed that new constructions and procurement of services should be handled by these units and contracts should not be outsourced.
Presently, the manufacture of furniture required, construction of warehouses and the day-to-day maintenance work are handled by the Port Authority.