Adani Ports Starts Operations At Colombo West Terminal, Promises Jobs And Growth

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) has started operations at the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) in Sri Lanka. The terminal is part of a major $800 million investment aimed at boosting regional trade and creating local jobs.

Karan Adani, Managing Director of APSEZ, shared the news on Monday. He said the terminal will create thousands of jobs and strengthen Sri Lanka’s position as a key transshipment hub in South Asia. “The opening of CWIT is a proud moment for Sri Lanka,” he said on X.

The terminal features a 1,400-metre quay and 20-metre depth. It can handle up to 3.2 million TEUs per year. It is also Colombo Port’s first fully-automated deep-water terminal. This will improve cargo handling and speed up vessel turnaround.

A consortium operates CWIT under a 35-year Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) agreement. The group includes Adani Ports, John Keells Holdings PLC, and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

Adani Ports also reported strong growth in FY 2024–25. It handled 450 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo, up 7% from last year. Its flagship port, Mundra, handled over 200 MMT in a year, a first for any Indian port.

Karan Adani also outlined future goals. APSEZ wants to become the world’s largest port operator by 2030. It aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025 and net-zero emissions by 2040.

The CWIT project will boost Sri Lanka’s economy. It also strengthens India’s presence in the Indian Ocean region.

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