Sri Lanka Ports Authority

Viewpoint: When Ports Think: The Rise of AI-Driven Maritime Systems
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Predictive analytics, digital twins, and generative AI are shifting ports from reactive operations to real-time decision engines.
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South Asia’s seaports form the circulatory system of one of the world’s fastest-growing economic regions. India alone routes more than 95 percent of its international trade volume through maritime channels, yet logistics costs hover near 13 to 14 percent of GDP — nearly double the OECD average — while vessel turnaround times remain elevated and hinterland bottlenecks regularly nullify efficiency won at the terminal gate. Rapid port expansion has exposed a deeper structural gap: not a shortage of berths, but a shortage of operational intelligence. Converting South Asia’s natural geographic advantage into sustained trade competitiveness now demands a decisive shift from basic digitisation to AI-driven decision-making across the entire maritime supply chain.

Read Full Text of this viewpoint here, https://news.slpa.lk/index.php/2026/05/27/when-ports-think-the-rise-of-ai-driven-maritime-systems/

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The Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Mr. Nurlan Yermekbayev, currently undertaking an official visit to Sri Lanka, today visited the Port of Colombo, where he was received by senior officials of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and relevant government representatives.

During the visit, he was briefed on ongoing port development initiatives, capacity enhancement programmes, and operational efficiency measures aimed at further consolidating Colombo’s position as the busiest transshipment hub in the Indian Ocean region. The delegation also visited the Pilot Station and received an overview of port navigation and vessel traffic management operations. Discussions further covered maritime logistics, infrastructure modernisation, and opportunities to strengthen connectivity and institutional cooperation in line with Sri Lanka’s broader economic development objectives and trade facilitation priorities.

The Secretariat of the SCO, based in Beijing. Established in 2001 in Shanghai, the SCO is a Eurasian multilateral organisation focused on regional security, economic cooperation, trade, and connectivity among its member states, including China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and several Central Asian countries.

Maersk Engages SLPA on Terminal Productivity in Colombo

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Delegates from Maersk met with senior officials of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority today at the SLPA Headquarters, Port of Colombo, to discuss operational performance and future collaboration relating to Maersk vessel and terminal activities in Colombo. The Maersk delegation included Mr Karan Tariyal, Head of Hubs – Maersk Dubai (TbM Operations – IMEA), Mr Biju Ravi, Country Manager – Sri Lanka & Maldives, and Mr Thilina Perera, Port Captain / Port Ex*****on Lead – Colombo. Representing SLPA were Dr Parakrama Dissanayake, Chairman, Eng. Herath M. P. Jayawardhana, Vice Chairman, Eng. Ganaka Hemachandra, Managing Director, and Mr Prabath J. Malavige, Additional Managing Director – Operations, together with other senior officials. Discussions focused on existing operational constraints affecting vessel turnaround, berth planning, schedule reliability, and transshipment coordination, including Inter-terminal Trucking (ITT) operations, as well as overall port ex*****on efficiency within the Port of Colombo.

The meeting further emphasised the strategic importance of the Port of Colombo within Maersk’s regional network across the Indian Subcontinent, Middle East, and Africa corridor. Both parties discussed the need for continued operational enhancement, stronger terminal coordination, faster response mechanisms, and improved handling efficiency to support increasing cargo volumes and maintain Colombo’s position as a key regional transshipment hub with strong operational strength. Maersk remains one of the world’s largest integrated shipping and logistics operators, with a global container fleet capacity exceeding four million TEUs and extensive connectivity across major international East–West and intra-Asia trade routes, reinforcing Colombo’s role as a strategically important node within its global shipping network.

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Unifeeder Lanka (Pvt) Ltd have entered into a Terminal Service Agreement valid until 2028, setting out defined terms for terminal services at the Port of Colombo. The signing was attended by Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake (Chairman), Eng. Herath M. P. Jayawardhana (Vice Chairman), and Eng. Ganaka Hemachandra (Managing Director) on behalf of the SLPA, together with other senior officials. The agreement establishes a clear service framework covering handling, coordination, and performance parameters within one of the region’s principal maritime gateways.

Representing Unifeeder Lanka, Mr. Sanjay Marasinghe (Branch Head / Director), Mr. Sumedha Perera (Senior General Manager – Commercial), and Mr. Thamira Jayasuriya (Assistant General Manager – Operations) executed the agreement. The term through 2028 provides continuity for service planning, with focus placed on schedule integrity, terminal interface efficiency, and consistent support for feeder operations. The arrangement is positioned to sustain throughput reliability and maintain Colombo’s standing in intra-Asia shipping networks without recourse to short-term contracting cycles.

Today, a delegation from CMA CGM, including Colin Gout, Vice President, Procurement, Ports and Terminal, and Aditya Vikram Kapoor, Director – Head of Procurement, met with Dr Parakrama Dissanayake, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, and the senior management team. Attendees also included Shano Sabar, Deputy Managing Director of Hayleys Advantis Limited and Chairman of CASA, Eric van den Driesen, Country General Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives, Pasan Periyapperuma, Head of Operations (Sri Lanka), and Romesh Nugera, Assistant Manager – Operations (Sri Lanka). The meeting focused on maintaining the existing working relationship and identifying areas for further business cooperation. Both sides confirmed that the partnership remains beneficial and agreed to continue working together on future opportunities.

After the meeting, the CMA CGM team visited port facilities to observe day-to-day operations. The visit covered key areas, including pilot stations, to provide a direct view of vessel handling and operational processes. The purpose was to understand current practices and identify practical areas for improvement in operations and procurement coordination. The visit supported ongoing discussions on efficiency and future collaboration.

The Sinhala and Tamil New Year offers an occasion to honour our heritage while embracing the promise of what lies ahead. The continued advancement of our ports reflects the discipline, commitment, and resolve demonstrated by our people, together with the enduring confidence placed in us by our stakeholders.
As we mark this shared cultural observance, we extend our warmest wishes to the entire port community for a year enriched with wellbeing, fulfilment, and fresh possibilities. We remain sincerely appreciative of your contribution to our collective progress.

On 07 April 2026, Dr. Felix Neumann, Ambassador of Germany to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, paid an official visit to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, where he met with the Chairman, Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake, together with members of the Authority’s senior management. During the meeting, both parties held discussions on development opportunities at the Port of Colombo, with a focus on attracting investment, strengthening infrastructure, and enhancing capabilities within the maritime and logistics sectors. The visiting delegation, which included representatives from the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) and stakeholders from Germany’s maritime industry, expressed strong interest in exploring areas for collaboration and long-term engagement. The discussions also covered potential joint initiatives aimed at improving efficiency, fostering innovation, and supporting capacity expansion at the port.

Today, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) delegation, led by President Mr. Masato Kanda, conducted a site visit to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, including the Port of Colombo and the pilot station, to review ongoing development projects and operational activities. The team, including Mr. Mahinda Siriwardana, Ms. Sona Shrestha, Mr. Keiichiro Inui, Ms. Manisha Pradhananga, Mr. Larry Giltrow, Mr. Robert Hugh Davis, Mr. Eric Norman, and Ms. Jeongwon Seo, observed current infrastructure works and port operations.

During the visit, ADB officials met with Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, and Mr. W.W.S. Mangala, Secretary of the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation. Discussions centred on project delivery, improving operational performance, and opportunities to strengthen collaboration between the port authority and ADB.

Today, United States Special Envoy Sergio Gor held a meeting with the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake, and the top officials of the Authority to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral economic collaboration. The discussion focused on port modernisation, operational efficiency, and infrastructure development, with particular attention to unlocking the potential of the Port of Colombo. Envoy Gor highlighted opportunities for private-sector participation and the importance of aligning regulatory frameworks and investment channels to support sustainable economic growth.

Following the meeting, Envoy Gor conducted an on-site tour of the Port of Colombo, observing ongoing development projects and operational processes firsthand. The visit provided a clear view of the SLPA’s current initiatives and areas where further improvements could be made.

U.S. Embassy Colombo, Sri Lanka