The northern entrance of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) that had been kept closed for years because of the possibility of attack by LTTE terrorists was re-opened on the 05th November 2009 on the initiative of Minister of Port, Aviation, Irrigation and Water Management Chamal Rajapaksa.

Earlier the Sri Lanka Ports Authority had also completed dredging of the northern entrance to Colombo port to facilitate the increasing number of vessels at the port.

According to the request by SLPA to re-open the northern entrance of Colombo Port to facilitate smoother maritime transportation through the northern entrance and following the acknowledgment of Minister of Port, Aviation, Irrigation and Water Management Chamal Rajapaksa of the immediate importance of re-opening of the entrance, to The President, steps were taken to re-open the northern entrance of Colombo port.

During the times of threat from the LTTE, the northern entrance had to be closed from time to time from 2001 to 2005. The entrance had been kept completely closed from the year 2005. The channel had got silted during the time, hence the need for dredging.