Category: Shipping and Transport

Aug 07, 2009 (LBO) – Container volumes rose again in July 2009 at a Colombo port terminal partly owned by John Keells Holdings whose transportation business has been hit by the trade slump and loss of a ship fuel monopoly. Relatively low margin transhipment traffic accounts for a growing proportion of SAGT’s total throughput, they […]

Aug 06, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s transport and logistics professionals are to form a ‘logistics directors’ forum’ that aims to get industry leaders together to work for common objectives, a senior official said. “The general impression we got from all of them was that logistics is a key area for the country which we […]

Aug 05, 2009 (LBO) – Global car carrier Höegh Autoliners has resumed calls at Colombo port, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) said.A new port being built in southern Hambantota will have space fpr vehicle transhipment and assembly operations, he said. “We could see many lines arriving here for Ro-Ro (roll on-roll off) operations in […]

Aug 04, 2009 (LBO) – A plan to move containers by rail in Sri Lanka and reduce congestion on roads has finally got moving with the state-owned railay making it a priority, a senior official said.“It is our number one priority in future plans,” said P P Wijesekera, General Manager of the Railways Department. “The […]

Aug 04, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Colombo Dockyard said it is getting more business in repairing offshore support vessels for the oil industry and has dedicated two docks for the work.Company officials said profit margins are higher on ship repairs as it involves more value addition and less material than in building new vessels. […]

Aug 03, 2009 (LBO) – A professional body representing Sri Lanka’s transport and logistics sector said it plans to get industry professionals together to lobby for better connectivity and less red tape. “With the end of 30 years of turmoil we’re now in a position to contribute significantly to develop many areas affected by war.” […]

Aug 02, 2009 (LBO) – The recession that triggered a steep slump in shipping may throw up opportunities for Sri Lanka’s Colombo port, a senior official of a company that has bid for a terminal in the harbour said. Dr Parakrama Dissanayake, chairman, Aitken Spence Maritime, part of the Aitken Spence conglomerate, said the recession […]

July 30, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan authorities have begun evaluating the financial proposal of the sole bid by China Merchant Holdings and Aitken Spence for a new container terminal in Colombo port, officials involved with the project said.The new port, which has been delayed for years, is needed urgently to cater to the bigger […]

July 27, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s railway needs to raise fares and train travellers must be prepared to pay more to reduce losses and make the state-owned service viable, experts said.This would ensure enough traffic so the train services could be run profitably, perhaps with private sector investment. The same approach could be followed […]

July 26, 2009 (LBO) – Too many transport ministries and agencies which do not co-ordinate effectively has resulted in poor transport service in Sri Lanka and delayed its aim of becoming a hub, an expert said. There were also high levels of exclusion between different modes – land, water, air – with three ministries involved. […]

July 24, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka plans to propose reviving ferry services and a railway link with India, across the Palk Straits, at a conference of south Asian transport ministers in Colombo, the island’s transport ministry said.The two proposals will be put forward by the government during a meeting of transport ministers of the […]

July 24, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s draft national transport policy came in for strong criticism at a public forum by experts who said it ignored important modes of private transport and private sector investment. Rohan Samarajiva, head of LirneAsia, a regional think tank, said the policy was also silent on opportunities in rebuilding transport […]