Category: Shipping and Transport

Apr 24, 2012 (LBO) – An European Union warship has rescued six Sri Lankan fishermen from Somali pirates off the coast of Tanzania, who would be flown home, the EU delegation in Colombo said. A Spanish warship Infanta Elena, which is part of an EU Naval force had boarded the fishing vessel which had been […]

April 23, 2012 (LBO0 – The state-owned authority which runs Sri Lanka’s ports increased operating profits last year as its spending fell and ship traffic and cargo volumes grew despite the global economic slowdown. The total cargo handled by the SLPA increased by 6.2 percent to 65.1 million metric tons in 2011 from the year […]

Apr 20, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shipbuilder Colombo Dockyard has laid the keel for the first of a pair of passenger vessels for the government of India to be deployed to connect its Lakshadweep islands with the mainland. The vessel will have a crew of 69. Colombo Dockyard earlier built two passenger vessels for […]

April 18, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shippers have had to pay higher freight rates after loss-making shipping lines succeeded in pushing through rate hikes but say rates might fall after the end of a cargo rush. “They have increased rates in March and April,” Gehan Kuruppu, president, Sri Lanka Shippers’ Council told LBO. Rates […]

April 10, 2012 (LBO) – Losses at Sri Lanka’s state-run railway rose in 2011 despite the acquisition of more rolling stock and increased carriage of passengers and goods, the central bank said. At present, SLR’s contribution to passenger and freight transportation remains as low as five percent and one percent, the central bank said. “In […]

Apr 03, 2012 (LBO) – Vehicle imports would be routed through a new port in Hambantota in the south of the island from May 31, which will speed up clearing of cars, state-run Sri Lanka Ports Authority said. SLPA said roll-on roll-off vessels were experiencing berthing delays and delays in clearing were also causing congestion. […]

Apr 01, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is planning a 600 million dollar high-speed rail link to it capital Colombo from the main international airport with a Malaysian led firm coming in as a promoter, a media report said. Sky bridges or underwater tunnels would link the terminal to the main railway station in Colombo […]

Mar 29, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s is studying the building of a new railway track to the east of the country and also extend another rail track to Hambantota in the South, minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene said. He said the cabinet of ministers had asked the Central Engineering Consulting Bureau, a state agency to […]

Mar 23, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s car imports have begun to taper off after surging following tax cuts with sales of Malaysia’s Perodua rising rapidly in a market where Japanese and Indian brands hold sway. In brand new car imports, India’s Maruti/ Suzuki remained the most popular by far with registrations rising from 97 […]

Mar 20, 2012 (LBO) – A state-run container terminal in Sri Lanka’s Colombo port has won back Japan’s NYK (Nippon Yusen Kaisha) Line, which is a partner of the G6 Alliance of carriers formed last December. The 8,200 TEU vessel ‘MV NYK Virgo’, operated by G6 Alliance partner NYK Line had its inaugural call at […]

Mar 19, 2012 (LBO) – Colombo Dockyard said it was eyeing yacht repair as a new market after winning work from a French specialist yacht management company, given Sri Lanka’s proximity to the Maldives where many vessels end their cruises. The yard, majority owned by Japan’s Onomichi Dockyard Co. , said it completed repairs on […]

Mar 18, 2012 (LBO) – Singer (Sri Lanka) Plc, a listed consumer durables distributor which 22 billion rupees in revenues in 2011 said it has seen strong sales of bicycles in former war-torn areas, where the product has been traditionally popular. Singer sells ‘Lumala’ branded vehicles through its distribution network, which grew in 2011, the […]