🚢 Port of Colombo Ranks Among Global Top 20: Path to Sustainable Maritime Leadership

• Overview & Key Metrics: The Port of Colombo (POC) achieved a historic milestone by entering the elite ranks of the world's Top 20 container ports. In 2025, POC handled ~3.5 million physical TEUs out of the 28.5 million physical TEUs regional Indian Ocean market, leaving nearly 87% of the subcontinental market captured by competing regional ports. • Operational Efficiency Case Study: SAGT serves as a prime benchmark, where process redesign, upskilling, and targeted technology usage expanded throughput from an original design capacity of ~1.1 million TEUs to approximately 2.1 million TEUs (nearly 190% of original design capacity) without altering its physical footprint. • Critical Logistics & Structural Reforms: • Inter-Terminal Trucking (ITT): Urgent need for SLPA leadership to reform ITT into a structured 5-way network model across terminals, resolving yard congestion and converting an operational challenge into a competitive advantage. • SLPA Governance: Recommends empowering SLPA with greater commercial agility while maintaining strong regulatory oversight, proactive monitoring, and accelerating the full operationalisation of the East Container Terminal (ECT). • Strategic Industry Partnerships: Highlights the need for deep collaboration with global shipping lines and terminal operators to ensure disciplined cargo flows, reliable connectivity, and sustained long-term growth.