Port Proceeds

Apr 30, 2010 (LBO) - Revenues of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), which runs the island's ports, fell last year with fewer ship calls and lower cargo volumes, while the number of employees also declined, latest data shows. SLPA operating expenditure in 2009 fell four percent to 21,301 million rupees from 22,201 million rupees in 2008 while revenues fell seven percent to 23,333 million rupees from 25,142 million in 2008, the Central Bank annual report said.

Global recession reduced the number of ships calling at the island's ports, mainly Colombo, but also in eastern Trincomalee and southern Galle, and the container and general cargo volumes handled.

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The SLPA's 2009 revenues were also lower that the 25,913 million rupees earned in 2007, Central Bank data showed. Operating expenditure was 22,415 million rupees in 2007.

But cargo volumes have recovered in the first quarter of this year.

The number of employees at the SLPA, which is known to be hugely overstaffed, also fell slightly in 2009 to 13,296 for the first time in five years from 13,715 in 2008.

The biggest reduction in manpower was in Colombo port, where the numbers fell to 12,150 in 2009 from12,548 in 2008.

The SLPA had 19,344 employe