Sri Lanka opts out of port deal with India
PORTS & SHIPPING

Sri Lanka opts out of port deal with India

In what is being seen as a setback for India, the Sri Lankan government, which is facing the threat of nationwide protests against port privatisation, backed out of an agreement signed by the previous regime in 2019 for Japan and India to develop the East Container Terminal (ECT) at the Colombo port with Adani Group as an investor.

As an alternative to the ECT project, Sri Lanka offered India another undertaking to build the West Container Terminal (WCT) at the same facility on a Public Private Partnership model along with Japan.

The ECT was tagged as a priority project for India by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during his visit to Colombo last month.

At a meeting with representatives of port trade unions last month, President Rajapaksa had said that the plan was to develop the ECT as an investment project with 51% ownership to be held by the Sri Lanka government and 49% as investment by the Adani Group and other stakeholders.


4th Indian Cement Review Conference 2021

17-18 March 

Click for event info


Make in Steel 2021

24 February 

Click for event info


As per estimates, over 70% of business at Colombo port is from ships in transit to the Indian coast, making it vital for Sri Lanka too. Incidentally, the Adani Group is also developing a transhipment port at Vizhinjam near Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, which is being developed primarily to wean away India-bound trans-shipment traffic from Colombo.

The ECT project was deemed important for India, primarily due to security reasons as the China Merchants Port Holdings Company holds 85% stake in the Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT), which is near the ECT.

Image Source

In what is being seen as a setback for India, the Sri Lankan government, which is facing the threat of nationwide protests against port privatisation, backed out of an agreement signed by the previous regime in 2019 for Japan and India to develop the East Container Terminal (ECT) at the Colombo port with Adani Group as an investor. As an alternative to the ECT project, Sri Lanka offered India another undertaking to build the West Container Terminal (WCT) at the same facility on a Public Private Partnership model along with Japan. The ECT was tagged as a priority project for India by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during his visit to Colombo last month. At a meeting with representatives of port trade unions last month, President Rajapaksa had said that the plan was to develop the ECT as an investment project with 51% ownership to be held by the Sri Lanka government and 49% as investment by the Adani Group and other stakeholders.4th Indian Cement Review Conference 202117-18 March Click for event infoMake in Steel 202124 February Click for event info As per estimates, over 70% of business at Colombo port is from ships in transit to the Indian coast, making it vital for Sri Lanka too. Incidentally, the Adani Group is also developing a transhipment port at Vizhinjam near Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, which is being developed primarily to wean away India-bound trans-shipment traffic from Colombo. The ECT project was deemed important for India, primarily due to security reasons as the China Merchants Port Holdings Company holds 85% stake in the Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT), which is near the ECT. Image Source

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Embraer to Acquire 51 Per Cent Stake in Mahindra Aerospace Arm

Brazilian aerospace major Embraer will acquire a 51 per cent equity stake in Novavayu Aerospace, a step-down subsidiary of Mahindra and Mahindra, under an Investment Agreement notified by the automobile company in an exchange filing. The transaction will give Embraer control of the aerospace business. Following completion of the acquisition, Novavayu Aerospace will cease to be a wholly owned subsidiary and become an associate of Mahindra Defence Systems, which is a step-down wholly owned subsidiary of Mahindra and Mahindra. The agreement is expected to be completed on or before December 1. Mah..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

RBI Opens Special Dollar Window for Three State-Run OMCs

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has opened a special facility to meet the entire daily US dollar requirements of three public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs), in a move aimed at easing pressure on the Indian rupee. The facility will take effect on October 12, 2026, and remain available until further notice. Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation and Bharat Petroleum Corporation are eligible to use the arrangement. Under the facility, the RBI will sell US dollars to the three companies through designated banks, allowing them to meet their oil-import payments without sourc..

Next Story
Building Material

Cement Prices Likely to Rise Rs. 10-15 per Bag from Mid-October

Cement manufacturers in India are likely to raise prices by Rs. 10-15 per bag from mid-October, as they seek to offset persistent increases in power and fuel costs. Emkay Research said its channel checks indicated a high probability of an increase from October 12, supported by the start of the busy construction season and favourable demand-supply conditions. The sector had implemented similar rate adjustments of Rs. 10-15 per bag during the first quarter, but the increases were insufficient to cover higher operating costs. Prices also softened during July and August because of the monsoon, wid..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code