Westports keen to participate in Sri Lankan port project

Interview with Westports Malaysia Sdn Bhd, at Pulau Indah, Port Klang

KUALA LUMPUR: Westports Holdings Bhd has confirmed that it is keen to participate in the Hayleys PLC-led consortium bidding to complete the construction of Colombo Port’s East Container Terminal in Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan government called for bids to develop the deep-water terminal on a “build, operate and transfer” basis last year. The project at Sri Lanka’s busiest port has been reported to be worth anything from US$400mil (RM1.73bil) up to US$600mil (RM2.59bil).

“Westports had submitted an expression of interest to participate in the consortium bidding for Colombo Port’s new terminal as reported and the consortium bidding is an ongoing process,” the company told Bursa Malaysia.

Westports said it would make the appropriate announcements to Bursa Malaysia Securities as and when there are material developments on the matter.

In the master plan of Colombo Port expansion project, the East Container Terminal will have a 1,200m long quay wall, alongside water depth of 18m and a yard capacity of 2.4 million TEUs (20ft equivalent units).

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority has so far completed a 440m single berth in the first phase of the terminal’s development plan.