Sri Lanka and India have moved closer to finalising a $61.5m India-funded redevelopment of Kankesanthurai Port after the two sides said they had resolved several outstanding issues surrounding the proposed agreements.
Officials met in Colombo this month to accelerate the memorandums of understanding covering the northern Sri Lankan port, with the talks led by ports minister Anura Karunathilaka and India’s deputy high commissioner Maitrey Kulkarni. Sri Lanka’s government said agreement was reached on several key points, although the MoUs have not yet been signed.
The two countries also proposed setting up a joint steering committee and technical committee to take the project forward. The Indian delegation will now report the outcome of the talks to New Delhi with a view to securing a final decision.
India’s foreign ministry said last month that the rehabilitation and modernisation programme would be implemented through a $61.5m Indian grant, with both governments instructed to move quickly towards an MoU.
Plans drawn up by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority include repairing and rehabilitating existing breakwaters, piers and roads, further dredging and wreck removal, and construction of a new pier and warehouse. Dredging of the turning basin to 8 m has already been completed.
Kankesanthurai, on Sri Lanka’s Jaffna peninsula, has been earmarked for both passenger and cargo links with southern India. The latest talks follow a ministerial inspection in February, after which port officials were instructed to speed up preparations for the redevelopment.
