He said a continuous lacuna exists in Sri Lanka’s capacity to cater to afloat repair requirements with the "security situation" being a "primary reason" for the lack of development in this area.

Colombo Dockyard, in which Japan's Onomichi Dockyard Company has a majority stake, launched an 'Afloat Repair Unit' in 2009, the year the war ended.

The unit's work was enhanced to extend to repairs in the eastern port of Trincomalee, with capacity to extend it to the new port of Hambantota in the south, Yapa told shareholders in the firm's annual report.

"This enables the Afloat Repair Unit to work in all ports of Sri Lanka, which undoubtedly will be an added impetus to creating the apt environment for Sri Lanka’s goal of becoming the marine hub of South Asia," Yapa said.

But, he warned, there were areas that require urgent attention from the authorities if the country is to maintain the post-war growth momentum.

"Archaic, cumbersome and bureaucratic procedures and mindset which were a natural phenomenon of the war remain unaltered," Yapa said.

"Moving personnel, equipment and access to vessels in afloat condition within and outside the ports is imperative to capturing, sustaining and growing our business."

Sri Lanka imposed touch restrictions on movement of people and vessels in and around its ports during the war years to enhance security against Tamil Tiger separatists who on several occasions launched attacks on ports.

Yapa said the yard continues to pursue talks with the authorities, primarily the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and the Sri Lanka Customs, to ease restrictions.

These talks, he said, "we hope will see more understanding of the business and the need to move forward away from the mindset of war."