Sri Lanka Navy, has  commenced this expansion project in 2014 adding a new side-slip way to the harbour, with a view to enhance its ship maintenance facilities. Initiating a visionary measure the project was initiated to cater for the future demands of ship maintenance of the Navy.

The newly constructed slipway is 37.5m in length and 10m in width. It is capable of servicing various types of ships and craft weighing less than 500 tons. Such facilities were only available at the Trincomalee Dockyard and the new southern slipway will greatly enhance the Navy's ship maintenance operations.

The Navy engineers using their expertise has constructed this new facility utilizing only 1/3 of its initially projected cost.

 Dr. Rungika Halwatura of the University of Moratuwa and Dr. Nandita Hettiarachchi of the University of Ruhuna has provided design consultation of the project.