<p data-path-to-node="2" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="2" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">COLOMBO / WASHINGTON D.C. — United States Commits Major Bilateral Grant to Build Connected Maritime Single Window and Port Community System Across Colombo’s Public and Private Terminals to Accelerate Subcontinental Trade</b></p><p data-path-to-node="3" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has formalized an agreement securing a $17-million bilateral grant facility funded by the United States Government to overhaul and modernize the digital operating systems across the Port of Colombo. The non-repayable grant program is designed to build, integrate, and deploy a next-generation Maritime Single Window (MSW) and an expanded Port Community System (PCS), creating an interoperable, paperless data architecture spanning the entire harbor.</p><p data-path-to-node="4" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">The diplomatic and operational milestone was confirmed during high-level meetings convened at the Port of Colombo, attended by U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Eric Stern Meyer, SLPA Chairman Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake, Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation and Minister of Energy Anura Karunathilaka, and Ministry Secretary W. W. S. Mangala.</p><p data-path-to-node="5" id="p-rc_918f8f2fa10bb636-130" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="5,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The $17-million digital overhaul directly addresses the administrative and operational friction that has persisted across South Asia’s busiest transshipment hub. While Colombo has made massive capital investments in physical quay capacity—such as deep-draft berth extensions at the East Container Terminal (ECT) and the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT)—its digital clearance infrastructure has remained fragmented across disparate agency silos</span><span data-path-to-node="5,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1719680759="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1719680759="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="5,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c4093912687="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <!----><source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c4093912687="" _nghost-ng-c2507847534="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="6" id="p-rc_918f8f2fa10bb636-131" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="6,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Under current operational workflows, vessel arrival notices, statutory IMO FAL regulatory clearances, customs declarations, port health protocols, immigration records, and terminal gate passes often require redundant submissions across multiple standalone portals and physical paperwork trails</span><span data-path-to-node="6,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1719680759="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1719680759="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="6,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">. This administrative latency has frequently led to vessel clearance delays at outer anchorages, slow gate processing, and prolonged inter-terminal container transfers</span><span data-path-to-node="6,3" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1719680759="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1719680759="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="6,4" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c4093912687="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="7" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">The newly funded digital transformation framework deploys two interconnected technological modules across all public and private maritime stakeholders:</p><ul data-path-to-node="8" style="padding-inline-start: 32px; font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="8,0,0" id="p-rc_918f8f2fa10bb636-132" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="8,0,0,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="8,0,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">A Unified Maritime Single Window (MSW):</b> Engineered in accordance with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Compendium on Facilitation and Electronic Business, the MSW establishes a centralized gateway for vessel reporting</span><span data-path-to-node="8,0,0,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1719680759="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1719680759="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="8,0,0,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">. Shipping lines and vessel masters will submit all pre-arrival statutory filings—including dangerous goods manifests, crew and passenger lists, maritime health declarations, and security notifications—via an open RESTful API data bridge</span><span data-path-to-node="8,0,0,3" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1719680759="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1719680759="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="8,0,0,4" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">. Regulatory approvals from Sri Lanka Customs, port health officers, immigration authorities, and the harbor master will clear concurrently in the cloud before vessels reach the pilot station, compressing administrative ship-clearance intervals to under two hours and enabling just-in-time (JIT) berthing</span><span data-path-to-node="8,0,0,5" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1719680759="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1719680759="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="8,0,0,6" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c4093912687="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="8,1,0" id="p-rc_918f8f2fa10bb636-133" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="8,1,0,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="8,1,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">An End-to-End Port Community System (PCS):</b> The cloud-native PCS will establish seamless, bidirectional electronic data interchange (EDI) across the entire commercial trade ecosystem</span><span data-path-to-node="8,1,0,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1719680759="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1719680759="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="8,1,0,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">. The platform interconnects the SLPA, Sri Lanka Customs’ ASYCUDA World database, shipping agents, freight forwarders, drayage truckers, and the terminal operating systems (TOS) of all active container facilities: the state-managed Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) and East Container Terminal (ECT), alongside private deepwater terminals CICT, SAGT, and CWIT</span><span data-path-to-node="8,1,0,3" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1719680759="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1719680759="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="8,1,0,4" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">. The module automates electronic Delivery Orders (e-DO), cryptographic Electronic Seals (e-Seals), dynamic truck appointment systems (TAS), and paperless inter-terminal transfer manifests</span><span data-path-to-node="8,1,0,5" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1719680759="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1719680759="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="8,1,0,6" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c4093912687="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li></ul><p data-path-to-node="9" id="p-rc_918f8f2fa10bb636-134" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="9,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Addressing international trade delegates and shipping executives at the port briefing, SLPA Chairman Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake highlighted that modernizing Colombo's digital backbone is critical to retaining the port's competitive edge. With transshipment cargo moving to and from the Indian Subcontinent comprising between 75% and 80% of Colombo's total volume, regional feeder loops cannot afford administrative delays that risk container rollovers onto mainline mother vessels</span><span data-path-to-node="9,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1719680759="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1719680759="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="9,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c4093912687="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="10" id="p-rc_918f8f2fa10bb636-135" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="10,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">U.S. officials emphasized that the $17-million digital modernization directly protects bilateral and multilateral commerce. High-value Sri Lankan apparel exports destined for American and European retail shelves, alongside industrial machinery, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural commodities moving through Indian Ocean shipping lanes, depend entirely on terminal predictability</span><span data-path-to-node="10,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1719680759="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1719680759="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="10,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">. Reducing cargo dwell times through automated data reconciliation lowers inventory holding expenses, reduces truck idling emissions, and cuts vessel operating overheads for global shipping alliances</span><span data-path-to-node="10,3" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1719680759="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1719680759="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="10,4" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c4093912687="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="11" id="p-rc_918f8f2fa10bb636-136" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="11,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Technical working groups from the SLPA, the U.S. development mission, and international port technology vendors have begun final architectural scoping, with the phased rollout of the unified Maritime Single Window and Port Community System scheduled to deploy across Colombo's terminal gates and marine traffic centers over the coming quarters</span><span data-path-to-node="11,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1719680759="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1719680759="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="11,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span></p>