Colombo Dockyard Secures Ship Repair Deal With DCIL

COLOMBO (News 1st); Colombo Dockyard PLC has entered into a new agreement with the Dredging Corporation of India Limited (DCIL), focusing on drydocking and ship repair services for DCIL’s fleet.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in the presence of Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha. The agreement was signed by Capt. S. Divakar, Managing Director and CEO of the Dredging Corporation of India, and Thimira S. Godakumbura, Managing Director and CEO of Colombo Dockyard PLC.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, High Commissioner Santosh Jha said he was pleased to witness the partnership, describing it as an example of the evolving relationship between India and Sri Lanka. He noted that the agreement reflected the type of collaboration both countries have been developing in recent years, particularly following the acquisition of a stake in Colombo Dockyard by the Indian company Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL).
Jha highlighted the complementarities created through this relationship, pointing to Colombo Dockyard’s access to the Indian market and the extension of Sri Lanka’s shipbuilding and repair expertise to a neighbouring country. 

He described the agreement as a clear “win-win” outcome and thanked both Colombo Dockyard and the Dredging Corporation of India for initiating what he said was an important first step toward deeper maritime collaboration between the two countries.

Colombo Dockyard CEO Thimira S. Godakumbura said the agreement marked a major milestone for the company and Sri Lanka’s maritime industry. He said years of effort had laid the foundation for this progress through the partnership with MDL, which acquired a 51% majority stake in Colombo Dockyard.

Godakumbura said the company had successfully entered into the agreement with DCIL to bring Indian dredgers to Sri Lanka for maintenance and repair services, describing it as a significant achievement that had been pursued for several years. He said the partnership with MDL enabled the required synergy that ultimately led to the signing of the MoU.

The agreement is expected to bring high-value drydocking and ship repair business from India to Colombo Dockyard, further strengthening maritime industry cooperation between Sri Lanka and India.