Sri Lanka Ports Authority to complete Colombo South project by 2008

Colombo: 'The Colombo South Port Development Project should be completed by 2008. All employees should extend their co-operation to the SLPA new Chairman to carry out the development activities ahead of us, said Foreign Affairs, Ports and Aviation Minister Mangala Samaraweera.

The Minister was speaking at the assumption of duties of SLPA Chairman Saliya Wickramasuriya last week. The Minister said that a well experienced personality such as Wickramasuriya is very much needed for the SLPA administration. He said plans have been scheduled to develop the Trincomalee Port.

'The development of Galle Face, Colombo Fort, Trincomalee and Galle City will be implemented by the SLPA' he said. The new Chairman said he expects co-operation of staff to carry out development projects ahead. Saliya Wickramasuriya educated at the Royal College is a BSc graduate in Engineering Physics at Loughborugh University, UK.

He has 20 years experience at Schlumberger Oilfield Services, Inc., the world's largest Petroleum Services Company, on oilrigs both off shore and land, in oilfields ranging from China to North Sea, and also Expertise in Reservoir Evaluation and Management.