Category: Shipping and Transport
EDB and CPC Meets Sri Lankan Exporters on Fuel Distribution
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) recently convened a high-level meeting between the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and a broad cross-section of Sri Lanka’s export industry to discuss the current fuel distribution mechanism and its impact on the export sector. Held at the CPC Head Office, the meeting was convened at the initiative of […]
Hambantota Intl Port Invests USD 108 Mn in New Cranes; Expands Container Terminal Capacity To 2 Mn TEU
Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) has signed an agreement to invest USD 108 million in new container handling equipment, marking a major expansion of its container terminal capacity and reinforcing Sri Lanka’s position as an emerging logistics hub in the Indian Ocean. The agreement, signed at a ceremony held at the Hilton Colombo on March […]
Iran Pledges Oil Support to Sri Lanka as Colombo Seeks Alternative Supplies
The Ambassador of Iran to Sri Lanka today reaffirmed Tehran’s willingness to support Colombo with energy supplies, even as Sri Lanka turns to other markets amid ongoing global tensions and sanctions-related constraints. At a press briefing, the ambassador was asked whether Iran would step in to assist Sri Lanka in the event of an oil […]
Uber and PickMe urge Government to allocate higher fuel quotas
The country’s leading app-based platforms, Uber and PickMe, have urged the government for support to keep Sri Lanka moving in light of the latest fuel constraints. Highlighting the critical role played by ride-hailing and delivery platforms in helping people access transport, food and essential services, the platforms have jointly asked for higher fuel quotas for […]
Sri Lanka Reintroduces Fuel Rationing via QR Amid Supply Disruptions
The Ministry of Energy has announced the immediate reintroduction of the National Fuel Pass (QR code) system, effective from 6:00 AM on March 15, 2026. The decision follows a surge in domestic demand and ongoing disruptions to Middle Eastern supply routes caused by regional conflict. Government officials stated the move is necessary to manage existing […]
PickMe calls for higher fuel allocations to ride-hailing and taxi services
PickMe has called for higher fuel allocations to ride-hailing and taxi services during rationing periods, arguing that shared mobility maximises scarce resources, sustains daily economic activity, and protects driver livelihoods. Sri Lanka faces renewed global uncertainty over energy supplies. While not a repeat of the recent fuel crisis, the situation highlights the need for efficient […]
HIP Expands RoRo Capacity with New Yard, Strengthening Position on East–West Trade Lane
Hambantota International Port (HIP) has commissioned a new six-hectare Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) yard as part of Stage I of Phase II of its RoRo yard expansion programme, marking a significant step in the port’s long-term automotive transhipment strategy. The newly completed yard increases vehicle parking capacity to 4,500 units per terminal space, easing pressure on existing […]
AIDAdiva Makes Maiden Call at Hambantota International Port
Hambantota International Port (HIP) welcomed the cruise vessel AIDAdiva on 12 February 2026, marking the ship’s first call at the southern port and the second visit by AIDA Cruises to Hambantota. The 251.89-metre, Italian-flagged vessel, built in 2007 and registered in Genoa, arrived from Thailand carrying approximately 2,000 passengers and 620 crew. The majority of […]
Port City Colombo Moves Into Active Development as Its First Residential Project Breaks Ground
Sri Lanka’s most ambitious urban development project reached a critical execution milestone, as construction officially commenced on the first residential development within Port City Colombo. The milestone marks the transition of the country’s flagship Special Economic Zone (SEZ) from regulatory readiness to active private-sector delivery. The project, Bay One Residences Colombo, is being developed by […]
HIP Initiates Sri Lanka’s First Fully Automated Paperless Port Gate Pass
Hambantota International Port (HIP) has launched its Automated Gate Pass Management System (AGPMS), becoming the first port in Sri Lanka to introduce a fully automated, QR-code-based, paperless gate pass solution. The initiative marks a major step forward in HIP’s digital transformation, strengthening efficiency, security, and access control across port operations. The system was officially inaugurated […]
Hambantota International Port Records 175-pct Cargo Growth in 2025
Hambantota International Port (HIP) closed 2025 with a landmark performance, recording a 175% year-on-year increase in total cargo volumes despite what has been widely recognised as one of the most challenging years for the global port industry. HIP handled 8.24 million metric tonnes of cargo in 2025, up from 3.0 million metric tonnes in 2024, […]
Hambantota International Port Remains Fully Operational Despite Extreme Weather
As Sri Lanka experiences one of the worst flood situations recorded in its history, which has crippled national infrastructure and forced operations to suspend at the Port of Colombo, Hambantota International Port (HIP) has remained fully operational, reinforcing its strategic importance as the country’s second major commercial hub. Although Hambantota also faced heavy rains, it […]