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35-611: The Sri Lanka Ports Authority Maritime Museum (වරාය අධිකාරය මූදුබඩ කෞතුකාගාරය ), commonly known as the Colombo Maritime Museum, is located at 19 Chaithya Road, Colombo, adjacent to the Colombo Port . The museum is operated and maintained by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority . The museum is housed in a former Dutch prison, built in 1676, which is the only surviving Dutch period building within

70-592: A 600 m (2,000 ft) turning circle. It increases the annual container handling capacity from four million TEUs to approximately twelve million TEUs. It is also able to accommodate larger container vessels, carrying around 22,000 TEUs. The first terminal was awarded to the China Merchants Holdings (International) - Aitken Spence consortium on 16 September 2010. The new terminal is planned to be operational by first quarter 2013. The 2.4 million TEU capacity Colombo South Container Terminal,

105-606: A fort in Colombo (1517). Before long Mayadunne got popular support from the local chiefs and population who didn't like Bhuvanekabahu VII collaborating with Portuguese. Mayadunne led several invasions against Kotte but Bhuvanekabahu VII was able to drive Sitawakan forces back with the help of Portuguese. During the first phase of these battles Mayadunne was helped by an anti-Portuguese Kingdom in Calicut , India . The Portuguese wanted to kill Mayadunne fearing one day he would become

140-693: A greater threat to their foothold on the Island but Bhuvanekabahu VII didn't let them to conduct an all out invasion against Sitawaka . Several years later after Raigam Bandara died, in 1538, Mayadunne annexed the Kingdom of Raigama to Sitawaka. The all out rivalry between Sitawaka and Kotte started to unroll here on. By this time the Buddhist monks in Kotte who were responsible of the Dantha Dhathuwa ,

175-755: A museum in Sri Lanka is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Colombo Port The Port of Colombo Sinhala : කොළඹ වරාය , Tamil : கொழும்பு துறைமுகம் (known as Port of Kolomtota during the early 14th Century Kotte Kingdom ) is the largest and busiest port in Sri Lanka and the Indian Ocean. Located in Colombo , on the southwestern shores on the Kelani River , it serves as an important terminal in Asia due to its strategic location in

210-583: A vow before he went to war with the Portuguese in the Colombo Fort. According to the reports of the Portuguese, in 1550, the King of Portuguese sent 600 troops to help King Bhuvanaikabahu VII of Kotte . They fought with King Mayadunne at Nawagamuwa. It is also recorded that in 1576, the Portuguese army destroyed Nawagamuwa Devale and established an army camp there. Mayadunne and the Kingdom of Sitawaka

245-585: The Colombo Port area. The building has been refurbished and renovated to accommodate the artifacts at cost of Rs 25 million, as a result of the concept first presented by the Minister of Ports Development, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction, M. H. M. Ashraff . It was officially opened in August 2003, by the Minister of Shipping, Ports Development, Eastern Development and Muslim Religious Affairs, Rauff Hakeem . Various items of historical significance relating to

280-592: The Colombo Port Maritime Museum open. In 2004 the Port handled 2.2 million TEUs of containerized cargo, which increased to 2.45 million TEUs in 2005. At present, the port handles 15% of transshipment cargo in South Asia . However, in early 2009, the container throughput of Nhava Sheva Harbour surpassed that of Colombo. However, in 2016 Colombo port surpassed Nhava Sheva Harbour and become

315-552: The Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company , was completed by 11 April 2012. The expansion project consisted of four new terminals that are 1,200 m (3,900 ft) in length and can accommodate three berths each, alongside a depth of 18 m (59 ft) (which can be deepened to 23 m (75 ft)). The channel width of the harbour is to be 560 m (1,840 ft) and depth of 20 m (66 ft), with harbour basin depth of 18 m (59 ft) and

350-535: The Indian Ocean . During the 1980s, the port underwent rapid modernization with the installation of cranes , gantries and other modern-day terminal requirements. Currently with a capacity of 7 million TEUs and a depth of over 18 m (59 ft), the Colombo Harbour is one of the busiest ports in the world, and ranks among the top 25 ports. It is also one of the biggest artificial harbours in

385-455: The Kingdom of Kotte . He was the son of Vijayabahu VII who reigned as king from 1509 to 1521. Mayadunne was the youngest child born to Vijaya Bahu VII and his main Queen. He had two full brothers, Bhuvanekabahu and Raigama Bandara . Bhuvanekabahu who was also king of Kotte from 1521 to 1551. In 1521 together with his two full brothers Bhuvanekabahu and Raigama Bandara , who were born to

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420-514: The 8th century, Arab Muslim traders settled in Colombo as a base for their trade for that part of the world. Today, they make up the local Sri Lankan Moor community. Among the users of the port, China , India and Persia were among the first people to use the harbour. In 1505 the Portuguese first discovered the Port of Colombo when first arriving to the island. In an effort to protect

455-497: The Adani-led project. West Container Terminal WCT is expected to become operational in 2025. The Colombo Port currently has three container terminals: Jaya Container Terminal (JCT), South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT - operated by John Keells Holdings ) and Unity Container Terminal (UCT). These terminals operate round the clock for faster turn around time than any other operator in the region. Port facilities include: Now with

490-552: The Kotte Kingdom and more and more of the lands of Kotte became part of Sitawaka. Since Kotte lacked local support the Portuguese automatically became the protectors of that Kingdom. Hence the rivalry between Kotte and Sitawaka turned into a rivalry between Sitawaka and Portuguese. During the period of Kingdom of Sitawaka King Mayadunne had stopped at the Nawagamuwa Pattini Devalaya to make

525-672: The Kotte Kingdom was divided between the three brothers. This incident is known as " Wijayaba Kollaya " and can roughly be translated as the "Spoiling of Vijayabahu". Bhuvanekabahu came to power as Bhuvanekabahu VII of Sri Lanka and he got established in the Kotte Kingdom with a region roughly including present day Colombo , Gampaha , Districts, North Western Province and Southern Province coastline. Raigama Bandara got established in Raigama with his control roughly over present day Kalutara District & Southern Province except

560-516: The Portuguese knew that controlling the island was vital, and thereby took advantage of royal rivalries between the Kingdoms. However, when the King of Sitawaka , Mayadunne , invaded the Kotte Kingdom and forced the Portuguese into retreat they retreated into the Port of Colombo, besieging the city many times. When the Kotte kingdom fell to the Kingdom of Sitawaka , the Portuguese were able to control

595-663: The Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha, secretly smuggled it into Sitawaka and placed it under the protection of Mayadunne since they saw Portuguese as hostile towards Buddhism . According to the local tradition if someone has the ownership of the Tooth Relic he can claim the throne of all the Kingdoms within Sri Lanka . Mayadunne's popularity grew rapidly among locals and similarly Bhuvanekabahu VII of Kotte and later Dharmapala of Kotte had to rely more and more on Portuguese for help. Mayadunne started frequent attacks against

630-454: The coast from invaders the King of Kotte at the time, Parakamabahu VIII made a treaty with the Portuguese giving them the right to trade cinnamon from the island, and receiving full authority of the coastline. The Portuguese established a trading post in the port but they soon expelled the Muslims and began building a fort in 1517. In order to protect their interests in coastal India ,

665-434: The coastline (which was under Kotte Kingdom ). Mayadunne got established in the Kingdom of Sitawaka (Present day Avissawella ) controlling roughly the modern day Sabaragamuwa Province ( Kegalle , Ratnapura Districts). Since Mayadunne was the main actor during the rebellion against their father, Bhuvanekabahu VII was from the beginning suspicious of him and developed close ties with the Portuguese who had established

700-547: The entire coast, making the Port of Colombo their capital. That area of the city is still called " Fort ". In 1638 the Dutch empire signed a treaty with Rajasinghe II of Kandy for monopoly over the island's trade goods and in turn promising help in the Kandyan King's war effort with the Portuguese. In 1656 the Portuguese were eventually defeated through a terrible siege which ended with only 93 Portuguese survivors leaving

735-602: The expansion of the Colombo South Harbour project CICT(Colombo International Container Terminal) was established and 12 quay cranes were added. Additional facilities include the Bandaranaike Quay (BQ) and Prince Vijaya Quay (PVQ) with four rail-mounted quay cranes , and 6,245 m (67,221 sq ft) of bonded warehouses. Mayadunne of Sitawaka Mayadunne was born in 1501 in Kotte of

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770-701: The first "pace" was ceremonially opened for traffic on 8 August 2013, making the Colombo Port complex one of the biggest in the world. The total length of the new breakwater is 6,830 m (22,410 ft), with a berth depth of 18 m (59 ft). In 2021, Adani Ports & SEZ together with local partners John Keells Holdings and the Sri Lanka Port Authority signed a $ 700 million 35-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) agreement for West Container Terminal. In 2023 U.S. International Development Finance Corporation provided $ 553m in funding for

805-592: The first terminal under new expansion in the Port of Colombo is built by Colombo International Container Terminals Ltd., (CICT) , a joint venture company between China Merchants Holdings (International) Co., Ltd. (CMHI) and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). It is developing the new port under a 35-year build, operate, and transfer agreement with the SLPA. Commenced construction in December 2011,

840-749: The fort. The area captured by the Dutch was given back to the Sinhalese king, however continued to control the area and the rich cinnamon lands. Until 1796, The Port of Colombo was also the capital of the Dutch Maritime Provinces controlled by the Dutch East India Company . The Port of Colombo fell to the British in 1796, when they first arrived on the island. However it remained a Kandyan Kingdom military outpost until it

875-524: The largest and busiest container port in South Asia. Sri Lanka Ports Authority owns 15% stakes each in SAGT and CICT and proposed West Container Terminal. In 2008, the port commenced a large-scale expansion project at a cost of US$ 1.2 billion, which is expected to dramatically increase the port's capacity and capabilities. The project, which was headed by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and built by

910-403: The main queen of Vijaya Bahu VII , he revolted against his father, suspecting him of planning to pass the throne of Kotte to one of Vijaya Bahu VII's other queen's sons (Devaraja) after his death. Although Mayadunne was the youngest of the three brothers he was the mastermind behind this revolt which ended with the death of their father Vijaya Bahu VII (he was assassinated by a hired foreigner) and

945-468: The port became more attractive to main line shipping than any other port in the region. After the introduction of private sector operators, it consolidated its position as a major regional hub port for transshipment cargo in the late 1990s. The main channel of the port was deepened to 15 meters, while it also reached the one million mark for annual handling of container TEUs in 1996. In 1997 the Oil Berth

980-400: The ports of the country, it's maritime industry and the ocean around Sri Lanka are on display. Sculptures of King Vijeya and other significant characters are also on display along with model exhibits of ships. There are also art works, and models symbolizing the systematic development of the Colombo Port and equipment used in Port operation during various times. This article related to

1015-540: The world handling most of the country's foreign trade. It has an annual cargo tonnage of 30.9 million tons . The port is also the naval base for Sri Lanka Navy Western Fleet under the Commander Western Naval Area (COMWEST). The Port of Colombo is home to the second tallest building in South Asia and is the center for many commercial interests. The Port of Colombo was known to Roman , Arab , and Chinese traders more than 2000 years ago. By

1050-575: Was a part of the Sinhalese–Portuguese War , which was an effort to get rid of the occupying Portuguese forces and stop them from colonizing the island. At the time, it was the worst ever defeat by a colonial power on eastern soil. Mayadunne and his son Rajasigha fought the Portuguese in the Battle of Mulleriyawa and won, where the Kingdom of Sitawaka emerged all-powerful, able to challenge

1085-455: Was founded. Sri Lanka's economy began to improve, even though it had influences of Portuguese , Dutch and British cultures while its own had been repressed. The Sri Lanka Ports Authority was created in 1980. The harbour underwent a major transformation to handle containerised cargo in the early 1980s, with two being built by the end of the 1980s and three more in the early 1990s. Due to this, and its strategic location amidst trade routes,

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1120-505: Was opened and container traffic made it to the 1.5 million TEUs mark. 1998 saw the opening of a new container terminal while 1999 saw a new container yard begin operation. The Oluvil Lighthouse was commissioned, and the Oluvil Maritime Training Center opened also in 1999. The South Asia Gateway Terminal began operations, and a new 50 thousand DWT berth was constructed. A third berth at Galle Regional Port

1155-719: Was practically the Legislative Council of Ceylon , meeting for the first time in 1866. In 1912, the Port was converted into a sheltered harbour, and the Colombo Port Commission was established in 1913. Much of the city was planned during the British occupation of the Port of Colombo. The Port saw dramatic changes when the country gained its independence in 1948. The Queen Elizabeth Quay was opened in 1954, while 16 alongside berths, transit sheds and warehouses were completed. In 1958 The Port Corporation

1190-630: Was started in 2000, while the Peliyagoda Container Freight Station was opened. The second phase of the North Pier development started, and the port opened a one-stop documentation center opened its doors. In 2002, the multi-purpose Ashraff Quay was inaugurated, while the new Customer Service Center for LCL and breakbulk cargoes was opened in the same year. 2003 saw the Unity Container Terminal and

1225-495: Was surrendered in 1815. The Port was made the capital of the new British crown colony called Ceylon . The British decided to build houses and civilian buildings rather than making it into a military centre, giving birth to the modern Port of Colombo. In 1865, the Municipal Council was created by the British in the Port of Colombo in an effort to teach the local population self-governance. The Colombo Municipal Council

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