SAGT breaks through 2mn TEUs in 2018

From left: SAGT Commercial and Marketing Manager Dhashma Karunaratne, ONE Lanka Product and Network General Manager Lohitha Hettiarachchi, ONE Lanka Manager and Operations Head Nalaka Alwis, ONE Lanka Commercial and Marketing and Product and Network Senior General Manager Ayesh Perera, One Lanka Managing Director Vishvanath Daluwatte, SAGT Chief Executive Officer Romesh David, SAGT Chairman Susantha Ratnayake, SAGT General Manager Operations Upul Jinadasa, SAGT Operations Manager Senaka Ranasinghe, SAGT Planning Manager Prasanga Silva and SAGT  Chief Commercial Officer Ted Muttiah 

South Asia Gateway Terminals (Pvt.) Ltd (SAGT), Sri Lanka’s first public-private partnership, a flagship venture of the Board of Investment, today achieved an impressive two million 20-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) in a calendar year, for the first time.   

SAGT commenced operations in 1999 and along its 19-year journey, has consistently established groundbreaking benchmarks, securing several global and regional awards in recognition of its operational high performance, productivity and efficiency.  

However, the achievement of two million TEUs in a single year is a first for the company and particularly significant, considering the terminal’s original design capacity being assessed at just 1.1 million TEUs. 

Over the last five years, SAGT has averaged around 1.7 million TEUs per annum. Its previous highest volume was 1.9 million TEUs achieved in 2009 and 2010.  

SAGT Chairman Susantha Ratnayake was all praise for Team SAGT saying, “This is an outstanding outcome as a result of sound planning, management and operational execution. This is Sri Lankan talent showcasing local expertise and world-class competencies in a global business. It is a proud day for Sri Lanka and Sri Lankans.”  

Commenting on the occasion of discharging the momentous two millionth TEU, SAGT CEO Romesh David said, “Team SAGT is delighted to have once again risen to the occasion. The continued narrowing of the supply and demand for terminal capacity in the port means this achievement enables additional capacity in support of the Port of Colombo’s growth aspirations.”   

“Furthermore, this is an excellent example of team work within the SAGT family and with multiple industry stakeholders and service partners whose collective commitment to be the best, realize a new horizon of excellence. We appreciate the support of our loyal customers and acknowledge the leadership of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), harbour master and port pilots, who provide vital ancillary services, making these outcomes possible,” he added.   

SAGT’s achievement of two million TEUs generated over a 940-metre quay length provides the best operational yield per metre of quay length in the Port of Colombo and indeed in the South Asia region.  

General Manager Operations Upul Jinadasa, who has been with the company from the inception, said, “SAGT continues to evolve driving innovation and safety at the heart of its operational efficiency. This is an inspiring turning point for our operations. We are excited at the prospect of making this the new normal at SAGT.”   

SAGT is the first public-private partnership container terminal in Sri Lanka with approximately 60 percent Sri Lankan shareholding and commenced operations in 1999, launching the Port of Colombo as global trade’s preeminent gateway hub to South Asia. 

Today, the terminal is one of three operators in the Port of Colombo and continues to offer the international container shipping community a competitive best in class service. 

SAGT is a Board of Investment flagship company, whose shareholders include John Keells Holdings, Maersk/APM Terminals, the SLPA and Evergreen Marine Corporation.