By Yohan Perera  \

Expressions of interest have been called from private investors to develop Trincomalee Port as an industrial port, Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Chairman Prasantha Jayamanne said yesterday.  “There are 2400 hectares of land in Trincomalee Port and we have called for expressions of interest from potential investors to develop it as an industrial port. We are mainly focusing on local investors,” Jayamanne told a press conference.  

At the same time Jayamanne and heads of private terminals and a major stakeholder Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents claimed that Colombo Port is functioning smoothly despite the FOREX issue.  

“We have decided to allow local customers who face issues to make payments in rupees instead of dollars,” he said. The SLPA earlier notified all customers to make payments in dollars. He said this concession will be given to local customers only.  “We also have a contingency plan under which the port will use fuel kept for bunkering and will be used if an emergency situation arises. However there is no issue pertaining to availability of fuel to the port at the moment.