Asia/Pacific News
Sri Lanka's Colombo Port Sees Increase in Vessel Traffic, Cargo Tonnage
The arrival of two new main shipping lines and an overall increase in traffic have prompted the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) to state that its Colombo port is meeting on going challenges in the maritime sector, Lanka Business Online reports.
The number of vessels calling at Colombo for the first six months of 2015 increased by 12.7 percent, and cargo tonnage increased by 2.8 percent over the same time period.
Container handling at the port also increased by 6.4 percent.
The SLPA stated that "The infrastructure is being developed significantly and much is being done to improve the welfare of the employees.
"Plans are being implemented to increase productivity."
During an August 1 celebration of the Authority's 36th anniversary, Lakdas Panagoda, chairman of the SLPA, remarked, "We are very pleased that the SLPA…has been able to increase the salary of employees by 15 percent with an additional allowance of 9,000 rupees [$141]."
The good news comes on the heels of the SLPA announcing in July that Colombo will be home to a new cruise terminal, thanks to a growing number of cruise vessel calls.
