Category: Shipping and Transport

May 24, 2007 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) is to start construction work on the planned new deep-water port in Hambantota on the island’s south coast in the first week of June, officials said. The first phase of the project is to be completed in three years and three months, SLPA vice […]

May 23, 2007 (LBO) – Japan Wednesday gave Sri Lanka a 15-million-dollar loan to re-build a key bridge in the embattled north-western district of Mannar, the Japanese embassy said.The bridge will connect the Mannar islet with the rest of the mainland and also speed up work to resettle thousands of people displaced by the ongoing […]

May 21, 2007 (LBO) – Four investor groups have sent in bids to build the infrastructure and do the dredging for the Colombo Port Expansion Project, a new deep-water harbour next to Colombo. The new port will be designed to handle ships with a draft of 16 metres and as long as 400 metres. Sri […]

May 17, 2007 (AFP) – Insurance rates for airlines operating to Sri Lanka are expected to remain unchanged after the government’s decision to shut the airport here for night flights following rebel air raids, officials said Thursday.Sri Lanka’s only international airport halted night flights last Thursday in line with new security measures following several night-time […]

May 16, 2007 (LBO) — Sri Lanka closed its only international airport for night flights at the request of national carrier SriLankan Airlines, who would have otherwise been slapped a high insurance premium, the president’s office said in a statement Wednesday.London-Heathrow another top global hub also closes in the night to minimise disturbing city dwellers. […]

May 15, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Road Development Authority (RDA) is considering building an elevated or underground road to connect the fast growing Malabe suburb with Colombo city. It has extensive experience in building highways and bridges, and their maintenance, and has won contracts in India, the Philippines, and Australia. Road Development Authority (RDA) […]

May 12 (LBO) – High winds caused a barge anchored off Galle port in southern Sri Lanka to drag anchor and get washed ashore Friday, eyewitnesses and harbour officials said. The unladen barge had been towed by a tug which had come to Galle for repairs after developing engine trouble when sailing past the island. […]

May 11, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka plans to buy 60 million dollars worth of locomotives and passenger coaches from China to modernise its Victorian-era network, the state-owned railway announced on Friday.Sri Lanka Railways is purchasing 100 carriages and 15 diesel-powered locomotives, technical manager P.P. Wijesekera told AFP. China’s Exxim Bank will fund the purchases […]

May 10, 2007 (LBO) – A senior Sri Lankan government official has suggested doubling fuel prices and scrapping free cars and fuel for government servants to solve the island’s transport problem. Road Development Authority (RDA) chairman M.B.S. Fernando also made the startling suggestion that he prefers keeping roads in their present dilapidated state. Slow Roads […]

May 10, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s only international airport shut to night flights on Thursday in line with new security measures against raids by rebel Tamil Tiger aircraft, an airport official said.As the last commercial flight for the day left for neighbouring India, the authorities closed the check-in counters and the only runway at […]

COLOMBO, May 9, 2007 (AFP) – Thousands of passengers face travel delays and disruptions starting Thursday, when Sri Lanka’s only international airport closes to night traffic after a series of daring air raids by guerrilla rebels. Travel agents said several major airlines had yet to finalise their new schedules, leaving many travellers scrambling for flights […]

May 7, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka has restricted domestic flights and banned amphibious aircraft from using irrigation reservoirs following Tamil Tiger air attacks, officials said Monday.The military banned Sri Lanka’s national carrier, Sri Lankan Airlines, from operating a lucrative domestic service of Single Otter aircraft using reservoirs for take-off and landing, a defence ministry […]