Sri Lanka, Japan and IOM unveil roadmap to strengthen traveller clearance, health security at seaports

$ 8.4 m Japan-funded project covers Sri Lanka and Maldives to make ports “future ready”

- BY CHARUMINI DE SILVA

SRI Lanka’s key maritime gateways are set for a major overhaul in traveller clearance and public health preparedness following the launch of a new roadmap developed under an $ 8.4 million Japan-funded project by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).

The Seaport Symposium, held in Colombo yesterday, marked the presentation of the “Baseline Assessment and Roadmap of Traveller Clearance Arrangements at Sri Lanka Seaports,” a collaborative study aimed at improving efficiency, coordination, and health resilience at the country’s ports. The assessment, supported by the Government of Japan, covered the Ports of Colombo, Galle, Trincomalee, and Kankesanthurai, with reference to Hambantota as an emerging maritime hub.

Speaking at the event, IOM Mission in Sri Lanka and the Maldives Chief Migration Health Officer Dr. Simeonette de Asis said the project represents a milestone in Sri Lanka's efforts to balance border facilitation with health security.

“This collaboration continues to strengthen Sri Lanka’s capacity to manage borders safely and effectively, not only for trade and travel facilitation but also for public health preparedness,” she noted, extending appreciation to the Government and Embassy of Japan for their unwavering partnership.

The project, implemented by the IOM with funding from Japan, aims to ensure that Sri Lanka’s seaports and airports remain operational even during future pandemics or health emergencies, avoiding the economic paralysis seen during COVID-19.

Japanese Embassy in Colombo Deputy Head of Mission Kamoshida Naoaki reaffirmed his Government's long-term commitment to Sri Lanka’s border infrastructure, recalling Japan’s role in developing the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in the 1980's, Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) in the 1990’s, and recent projects in Trincomalee and Kankesanthurai.