Japan supports Night Navigation System development of Trinco Port

Japanese Ambassador MIZUKOSHI Hideaki attended the handing  over ceremony of Night Navigation System of the Port of Trincomalee  supported by the Japanese Government under the Trincomalee Development  Programme in the Eastern Province on February 17, 2023, a statement  from the Japanese Embassy said.   

 Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Nimal Siripala de  Silva, along with other officials of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority,  joined the occasion.  

“Japan assisted the Night Navigation System of the Port of  Trincomalee in Eastern Province with Rs. 2.63 Billion under the  Trincomalee Port Development Programme of the Economic and Social  Development Project. The agreement was signed in April 2017, as a result  of the Japan – Sri Lanka summit held in 2016, which recognized the port  development in Sri Lanka as a significant hub in the Indian Ocean. The  main aim of this project is to ensure smooth port management, enhancing  safety for nighttime navigation and 24-hour operation of the Port of  Trincomalee. Previously, the Port of Trincomalee was unable to navigate in  the night, as lighthouses and other navigational aids were destroyed  during the civil war. Mooring buoys, Navigation signs, Automatic  Identification System (AIS) and other port equipment, manufactured by  Japanese companies, were handed over under this programme.  

The government of Japan hopes that the significant outcome of  this project will enhance the growth of regional connectivity and  rehabilitation of conflict-affected areas will improve the overall  Socio-economic development in Sri Lanka while enabling it to become an economic, trade and logistics hub for the South Asian region, utilizing  its geographical advantage,” the statement said.