It was created in 1960, at the Second Dudley Senanayake cabinet as the Ministry of Nationalised Services, Shipping & Transport. It included most of the subjects of the current ministry. Then it was renamed as the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Food & Shipping at the First Sirimavo Bandaranaike cabinet. The section Highways was included in the Ministry of Irrigation, Power & Highways in both, Second Sirimavo Bandaranaike cabinet and Jayewardene cabinet. In the Jayewardene Cabinet, the section Shipping was included in the Ministry of Shipping, Aviation & Tourism. In the Premadasa cabinet The sections Ports and Shipping were included in the Ministry of Ports & Shipping and the Ministry of Trade & Shipping and the section Highways was included in the Ministry of Transport & Highways. In the Kumaratunge cabinet the section of Ports was included in the Ministry of Ports Development & Development of the South,the section Highways was included in the Ministry of Highways,the section of Shipping was included in the Ministry of Internal & International Trade Commerce, Muslim Religious Affairs & Shipping Development. The section of Highways and into some distance the section of Shipping too included in Ministry of Transport, Highways & Aviation of Ranil Wickramasinghe cabinet. The section Highways was included in the Ministry of Highways & Road Development and the sections Ports and Shipping were included in the Ministry of Ports & Aviation in the First Mahinda Rajapaksha cabinet. The original name Ministry of Highways, Ports and Shipping was created in Second Mahinda Rajapaksha cabinet in 2010.
Officials
Minister of Ports and Highways— the President of the Democratic Socialist republic of Sri Lanka, Hon.Mr.Mahinda Rajapaksha.
Formulation of policies programmes and projects in regard to the subjects of Ports, Highways and Expressways and all subjects that come under the purview of the ministry.
Direction of the implementation of such policies, programmes and projects within time lines agreed with the national planning authorities and within budgeted resources, with a view to achieving relevant objectives.
Provision of all public services that come under the purview of the Ministry in an efficient and people friendly manner.
Reforming of all systems and procedures to ensure the conduct of business in an efficient manner deploying modern management techniques and technology where applicable while eliminating corruption and waste
Provision and Maintenance in optimum condition of a high quality network of national highways and other principal road
Implementation of the Maga Neguma Rural Road Development Programme
Improvement of clear co-ordination process to cover all road project implementing agencies for an integration development and monitoring collection of road user charges in respect of National Policy
Formulation of Programmes and Projects based on National Policy in respect of Provincial and Local Authority roads and co-ordination and monitoring of such programs and projects
Road Development activities connected to Kottawa, Kaduwela and Kadawatha Township Development Project
Development and Administration of ports and harbours, light houses and beacons, oil installation other than those belong to Admiralty
Arbitration of disputes between shipping Service providers and users
Establish rules of competition for shipping Services
Assist and ensure consultation between shipping service providers and users
Receiving of Wrecks and Ocean salvages
Administration of Shipping Development Fund
Freight and shipping Services
Coastwise passenger traffic
Departments
Departments, with their heads :
Road Development Authority and its Subsidiaries and Associates, headed by Director General, W.A.S. Weerasinghe
Road Development Fund
Sri Lanka Ports Authority and its Subsidiaries and Associates, headed by chairman, Priyath B. Wickrama
