Title: Dry ports: a lacuna in Sri Lanka

Authors: Jayantha Rathnayake; Lu Jing; A.W. Wijeratne

Addresses: Faculty of Management, Colombo International Nautical and Engineering College, Millennium Park, Malabe, Sri Lanka ' Transportation Management College, Dalian Maritime University, 1, Linghai Road, Dalian, China ' Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Belihuloya, Sri Lanka

Abstract: This paper examines the needs for dry ports in Sri Lanka, where none exists now, using the inputs from the stake holders in the logistics industry to fulfil a vacuum of some scholarly literature on the topic which is not sufficiently discussed. A hybrid approach comprising both quantitative and qualitative methods was used to analyse the topic using the data collected through surveys and literary sources. Resultant conclusion is that the dry ports are needed in Sri Lanka as a solution to capacity issues of the sea port and the roads and the railways could play prominent role in this context. Findings of the research show that dry ports could offer a relief to heavily congested roads of Colombo city and the port infrastructure.

Keywords: dry ports; sea ports; logistics; capacity issues; globalisation; economics; railways; roads; port infrastructure; Sri Lanka; traffic congestion.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPMB.2013.058269

International Journal of Process Management and Benchmarking, 2013 Vol.3 No.4, pp.441 - 466

Published online: 12 Jul 2014 *

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