Dr Harini Amarasuriya opened the new phase of CWIT on Thursday, marking a $750 million outlay that raises the terminal’s throughput from 1.6 million to 3.2 million TEUs. The expansion is the second phase of APSEZ’s long‑term vision to capture a quarter of Colombo’s 13 million TEU benchmark by 2028.
Ashwani Gupta, APSEZ’s CEO, lauded the investment as a vote of confidence from the company and global shipping lines. He highlighted the terminal’s full automation, deep‑water berths, and zero‑tailpipe electrified operations as the backbone of its new transshipment strategy.
CWIT already set a record by handling 1 million TEUs in its first year of 2024 and 2 million TEUs within 18 months. Prime Minister Amarasuriya underscored the milestone as proof that Sri Lanka can accelerate economic growth through bold infrastructure partnerships.
Krishan Balendra, chair of John Keells Group, praised the expansion for creating jobs and attracting international trade. He noted that the enlarged berth will allow CWIT to accommodate three ultra‑large container vessels at once, reinforcing Colombo’s role on the East‑West trade corridor.