Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka – Mr. Mizukoshi Hideaki, attended the handing over ceremony of the Night Navigation System of the Port of Trincomalee supported by the Government of Japan under the Trincomalee development Programme in the Eastern Province today (17).

Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation – Nimal Siripala de Silva, along with other officials of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority joined to grace this occasion.

The Government of Japan assisted the Night Navigation System of the Port of Trincomalee in Eastern Province with Rs. 2.63 Billion under the Trincomalee Port Development Programme of the Economic and Social Development Project.

The agreement was signed in April 2017, as a result of the Japan – Sri Lanka summit held in 2016, which recognized the port development in Sri Lanka as a significant hub in the Indian Ocean. The main aim of this project is to ensure smooth port management enhancing safety for night-time navigation and 24-hour operation of the Port of Trincomalee.

Previously, the port of Trincomalee was unable to navigate in the night, as lighthouses and other navigational aids were destroyed during the civil war. Mooring buoys, Navigation signs, Automatic Identification System (AIS) and other port equipment, manufactured by Japanese companies, were handed over under this programme.

The Government of Japan hopes that the significant outcome of this project will enhance the growth of the regional connectivity and rehabilitation of conflict-affected areas will improve the overall Socio- economic development in Sri Lanka while enabling it to become economic, trade and logistics hub for the South Asian region, utilizing its geographical advantage.