In response to a series of fatal incidents at Colombo Port over the past 14 months, the Ports Ministry announced yesterday (16) that most of the incidents were accidents and that steps are being taken to prevent further deaths by enforcing stricter traffic and safety regulations within the Port.
Deputy Ports Minister Janith Ruwan Kodithuwakku told The Daily Morning that the majority of incidents involved vehicles operating inside the Port. “Most of these incidents were road accidents. Among the recent cases, there was one involving a container,” he said.
He explained that traffic management inside the Port differs from public roads due to the operational environment. “If it is a highway, drivers follow road rules. But inside the Port, it is different. As a solution, we have involved Port security and the Police to take legal measures to ensure that drivers adhere to traffic regulations within the Port,” Kodithuwakku added.
The Deputy Minister also noted that extensive construction work is currently underway within the Port premises, which has added to operational challenges. “There is a lot of construction taking place. When these projects are completed, most processes will be streamlined. Until then, we are taking legal steps to ensure drivers comply with traffic rules. Once construction concludes, the situation will improve,” he said.
Kodithuwakku emphasized that Port operations continue to be carried out in line with international standards.
At least four worker deaths have been recorded at Colombo Port in the past 14 months. The latest incident occurred on 6 February 2026, when 57-year-old signalman Sarath Sandalal, attached to the Ports Authority, fell approximately 38 feet from the 18th bay of the Singapore-registered vessel MV SOL Stride. Earlier this year, a technician at the Mahapola Ports and Maritime Training Institute was run over by a prime mover while performing repairs underneath it. In 2025, a container fell onto a prime mover at the Colombo International Container Terminal, killing the driver, and another prime mover driver died in December in an accident attributed to driver negligence.
