From the Editor Vol. 44(4)

Editor, ‘ENGINEER’, Journal of The Institution of Engineers. Head of the Department & Professor in Civil Engineering,The Open University of Sri Lanka. Eng. (Prof.), Int. PEng (SL), C. Eng, FIE(SL), FIAE(SL) BSc Eng (Hons) (Moratuwa), M Eng (AIT), D Eng (Tokyo) Colombo, before becoming the capital and then the financial capital of Sri Lanka was well known throughout most part of our long history as a port, “Kolomthota”. Natural setting and geographical considerations would have prompted our ancestors in selecting this location for the said purpose. Today, Colombo is an internationally known and highly trafficked port, strategically located in close proximity to major economic sea routes. Development and expansion of the Colombo port therefore would be an imperative for the future economic development of Sri Lanka, if no other port of that stature is available to the country. With the commissioning of the vast Hambanthota port, which is situated even more closely to international sea routes, it may seem superfluous to expand Colombo port at such a trouble and cost. However, as timing is of essence in the economic race, making Colombo port with expansions fully functional, targeted for completion in April 2012 could be the expeditious path to follow