Category: Shipping and Transport

The sweep for funding sources to back the proposed South Harbour project will be six months late on account of the ongoing political row. A market survey to identify potential investors to raise an estimated US$ 600 million for the initial work was due to set sail around November 2003.rn rnThe initial funding requirement also […]

Local private airline operators based here say they are getting ready to compete with the national carrierrnnext month when a provision in the MOU betweenrnrnSriLankan and the government expires.rnHowever, the regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority has not completed audits on two of the interestedrncompanies who are keen to fly international routes.rn rnExpo Aviation, Lion Air […]

SriLankan Airlines will use its lquote Fifth Freedom aviation rights to carry passengers from Cochin in India to the Maldives, in July. Fifth Freedom rights allow a registered airline of one state to pick up passengers from another country and put them down in a third state.rn rnIn effect, this means that an airline can […]

Indias Jet Airways chalked up Colombo as its first international destination on Wednesday, after both governments opened skies recently for bilateral traffic. The airline will initially operate Chennai-Colombo runs, extending this to Bangalore, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram within the next two months.rn rnldblquote We have got approval for these three routes, seven flights a week from […]

Indias Sahara Air flew in its first paid-passenger-flight to Colombo on Monday taking Sri Lanka a step closer to the coveted regional tourism hub status.ldblquote Your government has realised that tourism is the main industry for Sri Lanka and has opened the skies, dblquote said CEO Sahara Airlines Ltd, Uttam Kumaar Bose, at a press […]

More than 30 international airport developers have shown initial interest in building and perhaps taking a stake in a new international airport in the south of the country.Secretary to the Aviation Ministry said some global players have also shown interest to build the airport at Wellawaya.rn rnldblquote To date 30 parties have taken documents pertaining […]

All assets of state owned construction firm Road Construction and Development Company (RCDC) is to be packaged and sold off following its shut down last year. State privatization arm PERC has called for consultants to help value the assets including plants, machinery, quarries and workshops, which can be sold as ongoing commercial concerns.rn rnThe consultants […]

While Sri Lankas impoverished national railway struggles to make ends meet above ground, prospects are under evaluation to build a new rail network underground supported by Korean technology.Feasibility studies to set up Sri Lankas first underground rail system connecting Kalutara, Colombo, Negombo and Avissawella is underway, Minister of Lands, Rajitha Senaratne said on Wednesday.rn rnldblquote […]

Dubai based Emirates Airlines said Monday, that it was adding five new services to Colombo in March, substantially increasing seat and cargo capacity to and from the Indian Ocean island.The new services routed Dubai-Colombo-Male-Dubai commence March 20 and will bring the total number of services operated by the airline to Colombo to 22 a week.rn […]

Privately owned helicopters could come to the rescue in medical and natural disasters and fly in to transport shipping crew between land and sea before long.Helicopters are due to make a comeback to Sri Lanka skies after initial groundings in 1995 and the new arrivals will not be limited to tourist transport.rn rnDeccan Aviation Lanka […]

The promoters of Indias first Mass Rapid Transport (MRT) system have offered to help the government to set up a similar system to help ease congestion in Colombo.Delhi Metro, Indias first MRT has submitted a feasibility study report to the government, which has been accepted in principle.rn rnOfficials from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation were quoted […]

Private bus owners are lobbying the government to remove VAT payments slapped on lease rentals of registered buses.Currently, around 17,500 private passenger buses are in operation and over 90 percent of them are bought on a lease.rn rnMost owners opt to re-lease their buses, to meet costs of refurbishment and spare parts. Funds are also […]