Govt. to revise national port master plan to boost regional hub aspirations

The government is set to revise and update the national port master plan alongside a strategic land use master plan, allocating Rs.300 million in Budget 2026 for this vital groundwork. 
This strategic planning initiative is the cornerstone of a broader ambition to transform Sri Lanka into a leading regional logistics hub, moving beyond simple transshipment to offer comprehensive, value-added services that capitalise on the island’s geographic advantage.
In his Budget Speech, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake highlighted the underutilised potential of the sector.
“Sri Lanka has significant potential to become a regional leader in port logistics, leveraging its strategic location,” Dissanayake stated, outlining a multi-pronged approach to enhance both the capacity and operational efficiency of the nation’s ports.
Complementing the master plan update, the government will conduct feasibility studies for new Port Logistics Centres, with the support from the World Bank. These centres are expected to be pivotal in attracting global players to set up multi-country consolidation and other value-added maritime services within Sri Lanka.
Hard infrastructure development remains a parallel priority. The budget has allocated Rs.300 million in 2026 for additional studies required for the Colombo North Port Development Project. This comes alongside the ongoing major initiatives like the Western Container Terminal Phase II project, which is being supported by the Asian Development Bank.
Recognising that efficiency is as critical as physical capacity, heavy investment is being directed towards ‘soft’ infrastructure. A significant allocation of Rs.2.5 billion has been made for 2026 for the Trade National Single Window project, aiming to provide a single digital entry point for the traders and slash bureaucratic red tape. Furthermore, Rs.500 million is allocated for the design and development of a ‘Port Community System’, an integrated data management platform intended to automate and streamline port operations.
Connectivity between the port and national road network is another major financial focus in the budget. A massive allocation of Rs.12.5 billion has been made for 2026 to complete the Port Access Elevated Highway, linking Ingurukade Junction directly to the Port City. Anticipating future bottlenecks, an additional Rs.330 million has been earmarked for a feasibility study to connect the Port City end of this elevated highway with Marine Drive, aiming to alleviate traffic congestion around the Galle Face area.
Beyond Colombo, the budget addresses regional connectivity to integrate the north into the national logistics network. The rehabilitation of the Kankesanthurai Harbour is projected to receive Rs.300 million in 2026, while Rs.1.3 billion has been allocated for the ongoing construction of the Gandara Fishery Harbour.  (NF)