The Trincomalee Port would be turned around as a major international port said Minister of Roads and Highways, Ports and Shipping, Johnston Fernando after a visit to the Port.
He said that Trincomalee is the world’s second largest natural harbor in the world and potential to make a profitable harbour is huge. “We need private sector thinking going in to making this harbour a viable venture.”
The Minister observed that currently only Prima Ceylon and Tokyo Cement are widely using the services of the Port while Indian IOC also uses if for limited bunkering facilities. “We will revisit the agreements signed with the government by both Prima Ceylon and Tokyo Cement as we see how they could be improved as the agreements were signed when President Chandrika Kumaratunga was in power.” “The agreements have negative things and we need to look into the advantages and disadvantages. I do not think that is what currently in place is beneficial to the country.”
The Minister stressed that they have no intension of either privatizing or leasing out the Trincomalee Port as done by the previous government to Hambantota Port. Labor issues in the Trincomalee Port too would be discussed and sorted out.
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