Adani Ports and Special Economic Zones Limited, India’s largest integrated transport utility, yesterday announced the commencement of operations at the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) located at the Port of Colombo.

Developed under a public-private partnership, CWIT is being implemented under a 35-year Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) contract by a joint consortium comprising India’s largest port operator, Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd, leading Sri Lankan conglomerate John Keells Holdings PLC and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

The CWIT project represents a significant investment of US$800 million and will feature a quay length of 1,400 meters and a draft of 20 meters, enabling the terminal to handle 3.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) annually.

“The commencement of operations at CWIT marks an important milestone in regional cooperation between India and Sri Lanka,” Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani said in a joint statement.

“This terminal not only represents the future of trade in the Indian Ocean, but its inauguration is a proud moment for Sri Lanka and places it firmly on the global maritime map,” he said.

The CWIT project is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs locally and unlock enormous economic value for the island.

“It also stands as a shining example of what can be achieved through deep-rooted friendship and growing strategic ties and visionary public-private partnerships between the two neighbours. Delivering this world-class facility in record time reflects the Adani Group’s proven ability to efficiently execute large-scale critical infrastructure projects anywhere in the world,” Adani said.

Echoing similar sentiments, John Keells Group Chairman Krishan Balendra pointed out that this project will strengthen Sri Lanka’s position as a regional maritime hub.”

The project is one of the John Keells Group’s largest investments and among the most significant private sector investments in Sri Lanka.

“Together with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and the Adani Group, we will elevate Colombo’s position as a leading transshipment hub. “We are confident that this project will enhance global trade and connectivity in the region,” said Balendra.

The project is the first deep sea terminal in Colombo and is fully automated, designed to enhance cargo handling capabilities, improve vessel turnaround times and enhance the port’s status as a major transshipment hub in South Asia.

Construction began in early 2022 and has progressed rapidly since then. With the installation of state-of-the-art infrastructure now nearing completion, CWIT is poised to set new benchmarks in operational efficiency and reliability in regional maritime logistics.