Adany Colombo Terminal Ops begins; Gotam Adwani calls it a “milestone”

Adani Ports has started operations at Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT), a major water facility developed under a partnership between the public and private sectors at Colombo Port.

The project is operated by a consortium that includes Adani Ports, the leading blocs in Sri Keells Holdings PLC, and the Sri Lanka ports power, under the construction, operation and transport agreement for 35 years. The CWIT Station is $ 800 million, and it is characterized by a parallel length of 1400 meters and a depth of 20 meters, with the ability to deal with about 3.2 million equivalent units for twenty feet (TEUS) annually.

CWIT ​​is the first deep water automation station in Colombo and designed to enhance goods treatment capabilities, improve the shift times of the ship, and place Colombo as a major transportation center in South Asia.

Building began in early 2022, with rapid progress that led to the start of operations this month. Final infrastructure facilities are close to completion, and the facility is expected to determine new standards for operational and reliability efficiency in regional maritime logistics services.

“The start of operations in CWIT is a milestone in regional cooperation between India and Sri Lanka,” said Gotam Adani, head of the Adwani Group. “This station does not only represent the future of trade in the Indian Ocean, but also its opening is a proud moment for Sri Lanka, which puts it firmly on the global marine map.”

Adani said that the CWIT project will create thousands of direct and indirect jobs locally and abolish the enormous economic value of the island. He added: “It is also a bright example of deep friendship and the growing strategic relationships between the two neighboring, and what can be achieved through public partnerships between the two public sectors.”

“We are proud to see the progress in the development of the Western container station, a project that strengthens Lanka’s secret position as a regional marine center. Placing Colombo as a pioneering transient axis,” added Krishan Balindra, President of the John Kils Group.