Category: Shipping and Transport

SriLankan Airlines Cargo Centre handled a record 12,078 metric tonnes or 12 mn kilos of freight in March 2003, the highest ever throughput in its history.The previous highest was in November 2000, where the Cargo Centre handled 12,024 metric tonnes. rn rnBased at the Bandaranaike International Airport, the Cargo Centre handles all import, export and […]

Tata Automobiles of India, which launched a large selection of its vehicles to the local market, has found ready buyers among the countrys parliamentarians and police force.The company, which has managed to sell a large number of its SUVs to parliamentarians under an Indian credit line has also got an order from the police force […]

Its back to the drawing board for the Colombo Katunayake highway project, facing its latest setback with the imminent pull out of only contender Road Builder Holdings.Last October, Malaysian owned Road Builder Holdings were sole contenders to complete, manage and operate the four lane, 25 km airport highway.rn rnThe biggest snag officials say has been […]

The Emirates Group has declared a 74 per cent increase in net profits to US$ 285.7 mn (Dhs1.05 bn) for the financial year ending March 31, 2003, driven by the growing confidence of its customers in the airline and travel-related group of companies.rnrnrnrnrnrnNew Page 2rnrnrnrnrn Emirates Airlines operations alone achieved a staggering 94 per cent […]

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 […]

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 […]