Sri Lankan government intensifies efforts to enhance operational efficiency at Colombo Port in response to Red Sea emergency situation The Sri Lankan government announced on Monday that it is taking steps to increase operational efficiency at the Colombo Port in order to meet rising demand for container cargo operations resulting from the emergency situation in the Red Sea. The surge in activity at the port is in response to vessels rerouting away from the Red Sea due to increased attacks by Yemen-based Houthi rebels, and instead opting for an extended route around Africa instead of using the Suez Canal.

Ports Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has directed officials to optimize operations at the Colombo Port to accommodate the significant increase in traffic, with the port seeing an 80 per cent increase in volume by mid-January. The Sri Lanka Port Authority officials are anticipating handling around 7 million containers or TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in 2024, up from the 6.9 million TEUs handled in 2023. Additionally, developments are underway at Colombo Port's eastern and western container terminals to boost its TEU capacity from 8 million to 8.5 million.

Commenting on the increased operations, State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya framed the developments in the context of safeguarding freedom of navigation in international waters, and the Sri Lankan Navy has committed to dispatching a vessel to participate in international operations against Houthi rebel attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea. Meanwhile, increased activity at the Colombo Port will also aid in the region's economic growth through the increased trade and shipping activity.