The Port of Colombo is set for a massive capacity upgrade, with plans to handle an additional 6.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) by the end of 2026. Ports and Civil Aviation Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku detailed the expansion in Parliament yesterday (05), noting that the integration of the West Container Terminal (WCT) and the East Container Terminal (ECT) will be pivotal to this growth.Both the WCT and ECT are expected to contribute approximately 3 million TEUs each to the port's overall capacity this year. Additionally, the ongoing expansion of the JCT-5 terminal yard is projected to add another 500,000 TEUs. These developments aim to bring the port's total handling capacity close to 15 million TEUs by the end of 2026, nearly doubling its current volume.The announcement follows a record-breaking performance in 2025, where the Port of Colombo handled 8.2 million TEUs—the highest in its history—despite global trade volatility. While the Ministry of Transport and Ports originally projected reaching the 10.57 million TEU mark by 2030, current infrastructure projects like the Adani-backed WCT are expected to accelerate these milestones. The government remains focused on strengthening Colombo's position as a premier regional transhipment hub amid rising competition from regional ports.
