Sri Lanka – Colombo Port Operations Resuming After Cyclone Ditwah

Please be advised that Colombo Port has fully resumed operations following the severe adverse weather caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

Port operations were completely suspended from 26 November (09:00 hrs) to 29 November (08:00 hrs) due to unsafe conditions.

As of 30 November 2025, weather conditions in the Colombo region have stabilised, and both navigation and terminal operations have returned to normal.

Expected Impact on Operations

Despite the resumption of full port activity, customers should note:

• Berthing delays of up to 3 days are expected as terminals clear accumulated vessel backlogs.

• CICT terminal is likely to face the most pressure due to a higher concentration of scheduled vessel calls.

Summary of Cyclone Impact

Cyclone Ditwah and its indirect effects resulted in:

• Extremely heavy rainfall and flooding across Colombo

• Strong winds preventing safe vessel berthing

• High sea swells and rough conditions across Western & Southern maritime regions

• Significantly reduced visibility and unsafe working conditions

All container handling, berthing, loading/unloading, and transshipment activities were halted from 26–29 November 2025.

Impact on Sailing Schedules

Due to the multi-day shutdown:

• Several vessels calling Colombo are expected to face delays

• Some services may undergo schedule omissions or blank sailings

• Transshipment cargo via Colombo may experience longer transit times

• Misconnections are possible due to congestion and vessel rollover

Next Steps & Customer Guidance

We kindly ask all customers to plan shipments with these delays in mind.
Revised berthing windows, vessel schedules, and potential alternative routing options (where applicable) will be shared once carriers confirm details.

This disruption was the result of severe natural weather conditions beyond operational control, and we sincerely appreciate your patience and support as the port works to recover capacity.