ECT to be operational by year-end

Capacity expansion of 3 m TEUs planned 

The Ports Ministry is hopeful of starting operations at the Colombo Port’s East Container Terminal (ECT) by the end of this year (2026), with plans to increase the overall capacity by a further three million 20-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) through the project, it is learnt.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (7), Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku said that the ECT is currently the largest investment undertaken by the Ports Authority, with construction already nearing completion. He said that approximately 70 to 80 per cent of the construction work has been completed so far, and that testing and commissioning activities are already underway. Based on the current progress, the Ministry expects the Terminal to be ready for operations before the end of the year.

"At present, the said Port handles an overall operational capacity of around eight million TEUs. With the addition of the ECT, this capacity is expected to increase by three million TEUs. It will help ease congestion and improve the throughput."

The said Port remains the country’s main maritime gateway and one of the busiest transshipment hubs in South Asia. Its strategic location along major East–West shipping routes has made it a preferred stop for global shipping lines. The Port plays a critical role in sustaining trade, generating foreign exchange, and supporting thousands of jobs linked to logistics and shipping. 

Source - The Morning