Colombo International Container Terminal holds grand ceremonial opening ceremony
Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) invested and managed by China Merchants Holdings (International) was ceremonially opened for operations on 5th August, 2013. His Excellency, Mahinda Rajapakse, the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Mr. Li Jianhong, the President of China Merchants Group attended the ceremony, and cut the ribbon to officially commission the lifting of the first container, said in the company's press release.
His Excellency, Mr.Wu Jianghao, the Ambassador to Sri Lanka from the People’s Republic of China, members of diplomatic corp, Sri Lankan Ministers, Mr. Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Project Minister of Ports and Highways, Dr. Priyath Wickrama, Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Mr. Hu Jianhua, Assistant President of China Merchants Group and Managing Director of China Merchants Holdings (International),Mr. Luo Huilai, General Manager of China Merchants Huajian Highway Investment Co., Ltd., Mr. Fang Boping, Chairman of Chongqing Communications Research and Design Institute Co., Ltd. and other distinguished guests from the industry, attended the ceremony.
Also present at the ceremony were high ranking officials from most of the 20 largest container carriers in the world. These officials flew down to Colombo specifically to witness this special and historic occasion.
On 5th August morning at 0700 hours, the 12,000 TEU container vessel CMA CMG PEGASUS berthed alongside the brand new CICT berth. The berthing of this Vessel at the CICT berth, created history in the Port of Colombo by being the first ever ultra large container carrier to enter the Port of Colombo.
Prior to the opening ceremony, Dr. Hu Jianhua, Mr. Liu Yunshu, Chief Operation Officer of CMHI and CEO of CICT, Mr. Farid T. Salem, Executive Officer and Director of CMA CGM and Captain Nihal, Managing Director of Sri Lanka Ports Authority, boarded the Vessel for the traditional exchange of plaques between the Ship and the Terminal. Also during the day, Mr. Li Jianhong was interviewed by Xinhua News Agency at the opening ceremony site and answered the journalist’s questions regarding CICT’s influence on Sri Lanka and the Asian Pacific regions. He emphasized the leading role played by China Merchants Group especially in the field of Shipping and Container Terminal industry and discussed future investment opportunities in Sri Lanka.
