Category: Shipping and Transport

A recently completed draft policy for the port and shipping sector is proposing to link all agencies working to serve the industry into one umbrella organisation. rnThe maritime authority will oversee regulation and represent the foreign trade sector as the apex body among a long list of other tasks.rn rnThe proposal forms part of the […]

Colombos waterways could soon be a hive of activity with a Canadian firm studying its potential as an alternative to road transport. The Canadian firm recently concluded a preliminary study and has now signed an agreement with the Urban Development Authority for a detailed study.rn rnResults of the study are due in six months and […]

Six state bus companies were sold to a British consortium on Monday for a deal worth over Rs. 1.4 bn.Treasury Secretary Charitha Ratwatte and IBIS Managing Director, the investor who bought the bus entities last October, Ian Barrette signed off the deal at the Public Enterprise Reform Commission (PERC) office.rn rnUnder the much controversial deal, […]

The Civil Aviation Authority is awaiting the Ministry green light to open access to all of fourteen airports in the country.The Civil Aviation Authority says private airlines can start flights as soon as permission is granted, as the traffic will be light to the airports all of which are operational at present.rn rnThe airports mainly […]

National carrier SriLankan Airlines said on Thursday, it has cancelled all flights to Kuwait and re-routed flights to its European destinations with immediate effect due to US led attacks on Iraq.Flights to other Middle East destinations remain unchanged, but all flights to Kuwait will terminate at Dubai, the airline said in a statement.rn rnSriLankan said […]

Government plans to make Sri Lanka an air-hub after finalising a deal with the management partner of the national carrier.State aviation officials are drawing up a cabinet paper recommending freer access for airlines to the countrys airports.rn rnThese plans come amidst ongoing discussions between the government and Emirates Airlines to renegotiate the national carriers privatisation […]

SriLankan Airlines could add up to four new aircrafts to its fleet this year as new destinations come on line. rnSriLankan Airlines Head of Commercial G T Jayaseelan told Lanka Business Online that two long haul aircrafts could be brought in to service the proposed Rome and Beijing routes later this year.rn rnJayaseelan says that […]

Airfares will go up by up to US$ 10 per sector from Wednesday, as carriers try to cover rising fuel costs. Fuel prices since January have shot up from 86 US cts to 106 US cts in March ignited by the rising tension in the Middle East.rn rnAirfares to India will only go up by […]

SriLankan Cargo, the cargo arm of SriLankan Airlines, has handled the largest volume of transhipment cargo in January 2003 since July 2001.The volume of transhipment cargo handled in January totalled 1,341 metric tonnes, the airline said on Wednesday.rn rnSriLankan Cargos contributes around 14 percent to the airlines group revenues.rn rnSriLankans fleet currently comprises two Airbus […]

SriLankan Airlines has sought Civil Aviation Authority approval to raise outbound airfares by US$ 5 per sector.The airline has sought the increase, as fuel prices have shot up by 10 percent to 12 percent over the past three-months due to Middle East tension.rn rnldblquote This is not a decision we took on our own. We […]

SriLankan Airlines expects to sharply cut its losses during the current financial year but said the group will be in the black.The national carrier said it expects losses of around US$ 10 mn to US$ 15 mn this year, sharply lower than the US$ 60 mn loss recorded during the last financial year.rn rnAs a […]

SriLankan Airlines, on Friday made a profit warning for the current financial year, but said group profits will remain steady as the previous year.rnAs a stand-alone entity, SriLankan has never made a profit in its entire history, but the Emirates led management is confident of turning things around for the financial year ending 2003/4.rn rnSriLankan […]