Category: Shipping and Transport

Sept 18, 2009 (LBO) – International underwriters in London have further lowered the war risk rating for Sri Lanka following the defeat by government forces of Tamil Tigers, and appear to have excluded Colombo port, a senior official said.The London market’s Joint Cargo Committee (JCC) has lowered the risk rating from 3.0 to 2.9 – […]

Sept 17, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Colombo Dockyard said it has won repair orders from an Indian tanker owner with the end of the 30-year ethnic war helping to attract new business.The listed shipbuilder said in a statement that Pratibha Shipping Co had sent two tankers for dry-docking repairs in mid-June and early July, […]

Sept 16, 2009 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) said it had held talks with a visiting delegation of senior officials from Emirates Shipping Line which plans to augment and enhance its services in the region.“The delegation had deliberations with SLPA top brass on how to strengthen the partnerships between SLPA and Emirates […]

Sept 16, 2009 (LBO) – Work on the controversial Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project in the Palk Strait between Sri Lanka and India has halted again after the last dredger digging the channel was pulled out of service, a media report said.The project, about which Sri Lanka has expressed reservations, is meant to create a shorter […]

Sept 07, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shippers say they will resist efforts by international shipping lines to raise freight rates this month at a time of over-capacity by switching to smaller lines if necessary.Global lines led by Maersk, the world’s biggest container carrier, have announced rate hikes from September 1. CMA CMG and Evergreen […]

Sept 03, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will upgrade 150 kilometres of provincial roads in the east of the country and 220 kilometres in the north central province with a 70 million US dollar credit from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), a senior minister said.Information minister Anura Yapa said the total cost of the project […]

Sept 03, 2009 (LBO) – A 30-kilometer fourth stage of a 126-kilometre expressway from Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo to the southern city of Matara will go to a Chinese contractor but the supervision consultancy will be open for international bids. The first two sections of the road (34.3 and 31.7 km) is financed by the […]

Sep 03, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will upgrade 200 kilometres of roads in the under-developed Uva province and 100 kilometres in Amparai in the eastern province with a 105 million US dollar World Bank credit, a senior minister said. “The project is aimed at improving access to social and economic activities in the Eastern […]

Sept 03, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Colombo Dockyard said it has won an order worth about seven billion rupees to build two tugs for a Singapore customer with an option for two more vessels of the same type.The contract for the 130 tonne bollard pull Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessels was significant as it […]

Sept 02, 2009 (LBO) – The Asian Shippers’ Council is to relocate its permanent secretariat to Sri Lanka from Singapore following the improved security environment in the island with the end of the 30-year ethnic war, an official said.The ASC has also decided to appoint Rohan Masakorala, former chairman of the Sri Lanka Shippers’ Council, […]

Sept 01, 2009 (LBO) – Vehicle imports to Sri Lanka fell 35.5 percent in June with motor cars falling 70.6 percent, three wheelers, 33.6 percent and motor cycles 24.1 percent, the latest official data shows.In the 6-months to June total vehicles imports were down 33.4 percent, according to data released by the Central Bank. In […]

Sept 01, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s state-owned railway has ordered wagons to transport petroleum products from Pakistan as it seeks to increase freight transport by rail to reduce congestion on roads, a senior official said.The railway service has been making heavy losses in recent years and has not been allowed by government to raise […]