A Landmark Achievement in India–Sri Lanka Maritime Partnership
- The first fully automated terminal in Colombo Port is now operational, setting new standards in reliability and performance.
- The Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) will significantly enhance Colombo Port’s capacity and ease congestion, boosting overall efficiency.
- The CWIT project is expected to generate employment and contribute meaningfully to Sri Lanka’s GDP, driving long-term economic development.
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ), India’s largest integrated transport utility, has announced the commencement of operations at the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT), located at the Port of Colombo.
Developed under a landmark public–private partnership, CWIT is operated by a consortium comprising India’s largest port operator Adani Ports & SEZ Ltd, leading Sri Lankan conglomerate John Keells Holdings PLC, and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, under a 35-year Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) agreement.
The CWIT project represents a significant investment of USD 800 million and features a 1,400-metre quay length and 20-metre depth, enabling the terminal to handle approximately 3.2 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) annually. It is the first deep-water terminal in Colombo to be fully automated, designed to enhance cargo handling capabilities, improve vessel turnaround times and elevate the port’s status as a key transshipment hub in South Asia.