Category: Shipping and Transport

May 15, 2013 (LBO) – Trains have begun operating on the segment of a 252 kilometre railway track system in Sri Lanka’s north rebuilt with Indian aid which was destroyed 23 years ago during the island’s separatist conflict.The rebuilt track from Madawachchiya to Madhu Road on a track leading to Talaimnnar in the northeast was […]

May 08, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is tipped to need about 53 billion dollars over the next few years to develop vital infrastructure to propel economic growth, an infrastructure specialist said. “We see tremendous opportunity for Sri Lanka. The key to Sri Lanka’s vision to have motorable transport, integrated roads, railways and ports system,” […]

May 8, 2013 (LBO) – Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Priyath Wickrama has been elected third vice president of Tokyo based International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), an industry body.The 12th IAPH Asian/Oceania Regional Meeting/Port Forum had been hosted in Colombo for the first time in March 2012. Wickrama was born in Matara, […]

May 07, 2013 (LBO) – State-run Dredging Corporation of India has dredged Sri Lanka’s Kankasanthurai Habhour in the northern Jaffna peninsular, in a two week operation, India’s High Commission (embassy) in Colombo said.A ‘trailer suction hopper dredger’ had arrived at KKS Harbhour on April 19 and had completed the task by May 03 in a […]

May 06, 2013 (LBO) –Sri Lanka is seeking private investments to build an expressway and port related services as the government gears to develop the next raft of infrastructure projects, officials said. “Public private partnership, is high on the government’s agenda,” Ranjith Pemasiri, Ports and highways ministry secretary told a ports and logistics forum in […]

May 03, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is positioned to be one of the pivotal ports of call in Asia with deepwater terminals that can serve mega vessels which are transforming global container shipping, officials said.The so-called mega vessels include CMA CGM’s new ships which can carry 16,000 containers (twenty foot equivalent units), the second […]

May 2, 2013 (LBO) – Colombo International Container Terminal Plc, (CICT) a unit of China Merchant Holdings (International) will begin discussions with potential customers shortly with the first berth due to open in July, an official said.SLPA’s existing Jaye container terminals and South Asia Gateway Terminals, owned by listed John Keells Holdings are operating at […]

Apr 30, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Aitken Spence Plc said it had signed 15 year deal to manage ports in Fiji and will invest 10.5 million Fiji dollars (5.9 million US dollars) in the project. Aitken Spence also ports operations in South Africa.The group has interest in shipping, leisure and power. Aiken Spence said […]

Apr 28, 2013 (LBO) – A logistics conference and exhibition pushing Sri Lanka’s position as a maritime hub will be flagged off by the island’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa on May 02, featuring regional and international players, organizers said.The event will have international and local exhibitors and expert panels exploring key emerging trends in the region, […]

Apr 25, 2013 (LBO) – A 43 kilometre stretch of Sri Lanka’s Northern Railway line has been re-built to allow trains to be run up to a speed of 120 kilometres, Ircon, an Indian state-run transport engineering firm said.Ircon said the 120 kilometre speed capable track has been laid with pre-stressed concrete sleepers and rail […]

Apr 21, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has allowed high powered motorbikes with engines of over 1,000 cubic centimeters to come in with a payment of 25,000 rupees through a law promulgated by gazette, a media report said.Sri Lanka’s The Sunday Times newspaper said the law by gazette permitted motor cycles imported “immediately prior to […]

Apr 20, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will host a regional port conference and exhibition in May, showcasing the island’s rapid advancement as South Asia’s emerging maritime hub and growing commercial opportunities, organizers said. Sri Lanka Ports Authority chief Priyath Wickrama told prospective participants in a statement that the event will allow top domestic and […]