Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) has doubled the capacity of its Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) in Sri Lanka to 3.2 million TEUs following a 0 million Phase II expansion. The expanded facility was inaugurated by Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya on October 1, 2026.Key Highlights• CWIT’s capacity has increased from 1.6 million to 3.2 million TEUs.• APSEZ invested 0 million in the Phase II expansion.• The terminal can now berth three ultra-large container vessels simultaneously.• CWIT is targeting nearly 25% of Colombo Port’s planned 13 million TEU capacity by 2028.• The terminal handled 2 million TEUs within its first 18 months of operations.Colombo West Terminal Doubles CapacityThe Phase II expansion has doubled the annual container-handling capacity of Colombo West International Terminal from 1.6 million TEUs to 3.2 million TEUs.The expansion strengthens CWIT’s role in Colombo’s transshipment operations and its position along the East-West trade route. The terminal has been developed through a partnership between APSEZ, John Keells Holdings and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority under a 35-year Build-Operate-Transfer concession.Terminal Can Handle Three Ultra-Large VesselsWith the additional capacity, CWIT can simultaneously berth three ultra-large container vessels. This is expected to support the handling of growing container traffic through Colombo and strengthen the port’s role as a regional transshipment hub.CWIT is also Sri Lanka’s first fully automated deep-water container terminal. The facility uses fully electrified operations and is designed to serve some of the world’s largest container ships.CWIT Crosses 2 Million TEU MilestoneThe capacity expansion comes after CWIT reached 2 million TEUs within its first 18 months of operations.The terminal had earlier recorded 1 million TEUs during its inaugural year in 2024, according to APSEZ. The latest milestone comes as the facility expands its infrastructure to handle higher container volumes.Colombo Port Sets 13 Million TEU TargetFollowing the expansion, CWIT is aiming to handle nearly 25% of Colombo Port’s targeted 13 million TEU capacity by 2028.The increased capacity is expected to support Colombo’s development as a major transshipment centre in the Indian Ocean region and provide additional infrastructure for international shipping and regional trade.Adani Ports Expands International PresenceThe Colombo terminal is an important part of APSEZ’s international port operations. The company said the Phase II expansion strengthens its presence across key Indian Ocean trade corridors.APSEZ Whole-Time Director and CEO Ashwani Gupta said the investment and expanded infrastructure strengthen the company’s position across important maritime trade routes.The latest development comes as Colombo continues to expand its container-handling infrastructure and strengthen its position as a maritime and logistics hub in the region.
