The app called JumJum (Let’s Go) will initially launch in Kathmandu, where 40 percent of the 2.5 million motorcycles are said to be used.

“This strategic partnership is the culmination of a long search in South Asia to take our services to another country in the region,” PickMe’s Chief Executive Zulfer Jiffry said in a statement.

“We have done it in a manner that adds value to the Nepali economy, by engaging with an acclaimed Nepalese tech company.”

Motorcycles are in wide use in Nepal accounting for 78 percent of 3.22 million vehicles registered in the country.

“In heralding the arrival of JumJum in Nepal, we witness the  convergence of two technological powerhouses: PickMe from Sri Lanka and F1Soft from Nepal,” Biswas Dhakal, President and Chairperson of F1Soft Group said.

PickMe is a company in which Washington-based International Finance Corporation invested 2.5 million dollars in 2018.

“Over the years, PickMe excelled in diversifying their products and services by expanding beyond ride-hailing to being a logistics company and also a pioneer in delivering necessities, especially during crises,” Alejandro Alvarez de la Campa, Country Manager for IFC in Sri Lanka and Maldives said.

“It also became a platform which helped create jobs and new economic opportunities for many, including for women.”

Chairman of PickMe, Ajit Gunewardene said the firm was started 10 year ago, its capacity to go across borders was expected.

“The vision was to provide a service that would be of international standards,” Gunawardana said.

“Over the years, PickMe has diligently forged partnerships across the region, and as we venture into the Kathmandu valley, our aspirations have been realised.

“While there will undoubtedly be a learning curve, it serves as a vital stepping stone towards propelling PickMe to greater heights with expansion into new markets.”

Jiffry says the move to Nepal Sri Lanka shows the potential to expand digital businesses in the region, and earn foreign exchange.

PickMe hoeps disrupt the Nepalese digital transportation and also plans to use Generative AI to fine tune service to local habits and consumer patterns, he said. (Colombo/May14/2024)

The project was cancelled by Rajapaksa without any discussion with Japan or its main funding agency Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 2021, leading to severed ties in the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe has apologized to the Japanese government in May 2023 in his official visit to Tokyo for the cancellation of the project.

Though Japan has agreed to resume all the project stopped due to Sri Lanka’s unprecedented economic crisis, Tokyo has not agreed to resume the LRT after the then Japanese government went out of way to help Sri Lanka to fund the project.

“What we did was, we made request to them. We haven’t agreed on that,” Sabry told reporters at a media briefing on Wednesday (08).

“The agreement right now is to restart what was commenced and stalled at the time of crisis. LRT is a different thing. We told that we are keen on restarting the LRT. Nothing further was discussed on LRT. We expressed on our side that we are keen.”

The cancellation of the JICA-funded project by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s government, which was closer to Beijing has hurt Japan, top Sri Lankan diplomats have said.

The East Asian nation has long been the top concessional financial aid provider to Sri Lanka with mutually beneficial diplomatic ties going back seven decades.

Sri Lanka has agreed to pay about $3.4 million (about billion Sri Lankan rupees) to a consultancy led by Japanese firms, after the LRT project was cancelled suddenly. (Colombo/May 09/2024)

“There is a dire need for more optimal management of commercially productive assets in order to pay off the outstanding debt of over 860 billion for the expressway system,” the Gunawardena said on his Meta (Facebook) page after opening the Sahasya Investment head office at Battaramulla.

“Since it is difficult to fulfill that requirement in the traditional government organization structure, this organization will operate as a government company that can make decisions more effectively.

“By doing so, it will be possible to maintain a highway system that will not be a burden to the country.”

It is not clear how much of the 860 billion in debt will be transferred to the special purpose vehicle.

A Cabinet decision in March said some of the RDA’s ‘domestic debt’ would be transferred to the company.

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Sri Lanka to transfer expressways, some domestic debt to separate SOE

The objective of the SOE was to maintain the existing expressways system, determine strategic methods for further development, use modern technical methods to reduce costs and enforce an efficient and effective expressways system, Gunawardena said.

Sahasya is chaired by Secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Highways Ranjith Ganganath Rubasinghe, and its COO is senior engineer of the RDA K W Kandambi. A board of directors representing the Ministry of Finance and other government agencies has been appointed. (Colombo/May6/2024)

India will subsidize operating costs and charges at the Nagapattinam port equivalent to 25 million Sri Lanka rupees a month for the next year, while the island nation will also reduce its embarkation tax.

“Strengthening maritime connectivity between India and Sri Lanka was a vital component of the vision document for economic partnership jointly adopted during the visit of the President of Sri Lanka to India in July 2023,” the Indian High Commission said in a statement.

“The resumption of the ferry service is an affirmation of the people-centric policies of the Government of India.”

“In the future, connectivity with Sri Lanka will be further enhanced through electricity grid interconnection, two-way multipurpose pipeline and setting up a land connectivity economic corridor.”

The ferry service will be operated by IndSri Ferry Services, a provate operators, selected by the Shipping Corporation of India, in consultation with the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL).

The Airlines said its flight UL 503 bound to London with 272 passengers on May 1 was diverted to Vienna international airport in Austria due to a medical emergency involving a passenger who required urgent medical attention.

Later the same flight flight experienced a delay in departure from Vienna due to a technical issue, preventing it from reaching the Heathrow Airport before its scheduled closure at 22:00hrs London time.

“Consequently, Flight UL 503 was rescheduled for departure the following day, with all passengers who had visa to Europe provided with accommodation in Vienna,” SriLankan Airlines said in a statement.

The flight resumed its journey on May 2 and reached London at 21.30hrs, London time.

“As a result of this delay, SriLankan Airlines regrettably had to cancel Flight UL 504 from London to Colombo on 1 May 2024, with affected passengers notified and those who had already checked in provided with hotel accommodation,” it said.

“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused to our passengers. The safety and well-being of our passengers are paramount, and we deeply appreciate their understanding and cooperation.”

Government officials have told Economy Next that the delays in bringing down aircraft parts after Covid pandemic have contributed to delay in timely repair of technical issues.

The Airline, which once was profitable under Dubai-based Emirates management until 2007, has witnessed a raft of technical issues in Colombo as well as foreign airports recently. It has incurred losses since 2008.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa did not extend the Emirates deal with Emirates after the Dubai-based carrier failed to allocate a large government contingent with him to travel to London. (Colombo/May 3/2024)

Supreme Global Holdings is a firm connected to businessman R M Manivannan.

Supreme Global said it has formed a consortium including MBS Investments, the investment arm of Sheikh Nayef Bin Eid Al Thani of Qatar, and Sherisha Technologies Private Limited, formerly known as SunEdison Energy India Private Limited.

Supreme Global Holdings has provided 1.5 billion US dollars in credit to Sri Lanka during an economic crisis and accepted payments for oil in rupees, the statement said.

The involvement of a Qatar fund would support better financial stability, the statement said. (Colombo/May02/2024)

Colombo is serving the Middle Eastern ports as shipping lines are re-routing vessels away from the Red Sea and Suez Canal, SLPA Chairman Keith Bernard said in a statement.

Along with other privately run terminals, Colombo transshipped 1,729,314 boxes, up 24.2 percent from a year earlier.

SLPA’s own terminals had transshiped 582,403 TEUs, up 49.81 percent from a year earlier.

With domestic volumes SLPA’s terminals had handled 652,766 boxes up to March, up 48 percent from a year earlier.

New ship-to-shore cranes at the ports East Container Terminal can further boost volumes, as will the coming on stream of ECT Stage II, SLPA said.

“The new cranes will enable the port to handle ultra-large GMX 24 ships, allowing it to accommodate higher volumes in the future,” the port said.
(Colombo/May01/2024)

The new move empowers SriLankan Airlines to amplify its position and reach in Africa and to travel conveniently between Colombo and Mahé twice a week. Mahé is the largest island of the Seychelles archipelago.

For Air Seychelles, over 20 destinations are included in the partnership, which includes much requested destinations such as Sydney and Melbourne in Australia as well as other popular stops in India, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

“This new codeshare agreement will allow SriLankan Airlines and Air Seychelles to place their codes on each other’s flights and enable passengers to continue their journey conveniently using a single booking and with their luggage checked in all the way to the final destination,” SriLankan Airlines said in s statement.

“We are pleased to boost our codeshare network and presence in the African region through this new partnership. We look forward to working with Air Seychelles to provide our customers more African destination options in the coming years,” Richard Nuttall, Chief Executive Officer of SriLankan Airlines said,

Flights under the codeshare agreement are available to book now and will begin operating in May 2024.

“Now that we have been flying to Colombo for over 9 months, the twice-weekly flights have proven successful,” Charles Johnson, Air Seychelles’ Chief Commercial Officer said.

“The next step to solidifying our relationship is with this code-share, allowing even more passengers the convenience of a single ticket to more points served by our partner in Asia and Australia.” (Colombo/April 26/2024)

“Five parties submitted Expressions of Interest and the cabinet approved the decision to award it to the Russia-India joint venture on a 30-year contract.”

The companies were named as Shaurya Aeronautics Pvt Ltd of India and Airports of Regions Management Company of Russia.

The China-built airport has struggled to attract regular traffic, even after a raft of special concessions were offered for international airlines operating from the airport, including discounts on landing and parking charges.

The losses of the airport were reduced by 30 percent, Ports and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told parliament in December.

Read more
Sri Lanka’s Mattala Airport loses billion rupees in 2023: Minister

This week Iran’s President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi landed at the airport in an Airbus A340. (Colombo/Apr26/2024)

By automating the monitoring and coordination of aircraft maintenance with AMOS, the airline said it will be able to boost engineering productivity, reduce costs and maintain quality and consistency in its Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) operations.

“The integration took several months to complete given the complexities of transitioning data from our legacy system to the advanced AMOS platform. With this transition, we anticipate modernizing our operations, achieving greater efficiency, and ensuring that we maintain our aircraft and safety standards to the highest degree,” Head of Engineering at SriLankan Airlines, Arjuna Kapugeekiyana said.

“We have further integrated the AMOSmobile/EXEC Mobile add-on to maximize the overall value of the project with seamless, paperless operations such as electronic work instructions and digital sign-offs that streamline unnecessary time-consuming tasks,” Group Head of Information Technology of SriLankan Airlines, Chamara Perera said.

The AMOS platform has sophisticated features and data visualization functionalities that allow for precise inventory management and cost-effective practices.

Accurate calculations and scheduling of maintenance work will enable SriLankan Engineering to effectively manage aircraft maintenance limits in alignment with flight schedules.

The system also allows SriLankan to proactively plan manpower and material resources for maintenance activities, reducing Aircraft on Ground (AOG) occurrences as well as maintaining optimal inventory levels.

The AMOSmobile/EXEC software extension additionally empowers engineers and technicians of SriLankan Airlines to perform aircraft dispatch functions; request parts; check on fleet status; and carry out line and base maintenance tasks through a touch-optimized app, replacing paper-based with a digitized workflow. (Colombo/Apr25/2024)

There have been tit-for-tat drone and missile exchanges between Iran and Israel in recent days.

“These changes mean that flight times to Europe are extended, requiring additional fuel and reducing the available payload,” the airline said.

“Further, to meet slot times in London, these flights are being advanced by one hour.

“As a result, unfortunately, some passengers on the London flights have missed connections or been offloaded.
“The airline will maintain this routing and the earlier departure time to London for the next few days whilst it monitors the situation.”
Passengers who have missed flights due to early departure are being given alternative flights and hotel accommodation.
“Departure times from London, and to and from other European cities remain unchanged,” the airline said.
“The safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority.”

The low-cost airline’s flight departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on its maiden voyage on April 17 at 2:00 am, according to media reports.

FitsAir will initially operate two weekly flights every Wednesday and Sunday on the Dhaka-Colombo route with Airbus A320 aircraft with 164 seat-capacity.

The return flight will depart Colombo every Tuesday and Saturday at 9:30 pm and will reach Dhaka at 1:00 am.

The no-frills carrier offers return fares to Bangladesh starting at 58,900 rupees.

The airline plans to launch another frequency on the route in the next two months and two more by the end of the year.

It currently operates direct flights to Dubai, Male and Chennai from the airline’s hub in Colombo.

Fits Aviations (Pvt) Ltd, is part of Sri Lanka’s privately owned Aberdeen Holdings and was formerly Expo Air, which operated domestic flights and international cargo flights.

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Sri Lanka is looking to boost trade investment and tourism ties with Bangladesh, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said in November when it launched the Sri Lanka–Bangladesh Business Council (SBBC). (Colombo/Apr19/2024)

Head of maritime authority Jask, Mohammad Amin Amani was quoted by Irans Presstv.ir portal as saying the Cook Islands-flagged tanker had been caught in heavy storms and was foundering 30 miles off the port.

“Jask’s rescue and relief vessel was dispatched to the area and saved the 21 crew of the foreign ship,” said Mohammad Amin Amani said.
Storms have hit the Sea of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz, a key energy transport corridor where Jask is located on the eastern tip, the report said.
UAE and Bahrain have reported flooding from heavy rainstorms over the past week. (Colombo/Apr18/2024)

Richard Vaisvila, Lead Engineer of Airport Operations at Boeing Airport Operations Engineering conducted the technical session, state-run Airport and Aviation Services said.

Officials from AASL and SriLankan Airlines had attended the session. SriLankan has the ground handling franchise at the airport.

Boeing’s B-777X model promises greater fuel efficiency with the 777 dash 9 and can carry over 400 passengers in a two – class configuration.

The aircraft has foldable wing-tips allowing it to be parked at airports that can accommodate earlier B-777 style aircraft with a smaller wingspan (Code E).

(Colombo/Apr15/2024)

“It is still in the development stage,” Silva told EconomyNext. “If the pilot is successful, we would be able to launch by the end of June.”

Currently cargo ships arriving in Sri Lanka must declare the cargo upon their arrival in territorial waters.

“We plan on getting cargo information 48 hours before the departure of the ship from the foreign port,” Silva said. “That way it is faster for us to do our homework.”

“This way we can do the risk assessment and see if it’s low risk, medium risk or high risk.”

Sri Lanka Customs can then start the process of authorization and documentation before the ship arrives in Sri Lankan territorial waters.

Prior cargo declaration begins from April, and piloting of pre-arrival processing is set to start on May 1.

The pre-arrival and prior cargo declaration project supported by German’s GIZ. (Colombo/Apr10/2024)

The container vessel MSC Ingrid made her maiden call at the port on April 09, coming from Rotterdam discharging 500 twenty foot equivalent units, kicking off the transshipment service, the company said.

“We are confident our container transshipment service will enhance Sri Lanka’s position in the marine connectivity index for the South Asian region,” Johnson Liu ,Chief Representative of China Merchants Group in Sri Lanka and CEO of HIPG said.

“With MSC’s collaborative partnership, HIPG will now look at expanding our investment in equipment and other infra-structure facilities, enabling us to service larger vessels on the east west shipping route.”

HIPG is a joint venture between China’s CM Ports group and Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

The boxes unloaded on April 09, will be picked up by another MSC vessel, ‘Sky 11’, on April 16 and be taken to Dubai.

Many mainline vessels that are by-passing Middle Eastern ports East of Suez and going around the Cape of Good Hope are discharging or picking up Middle Eastern cargo in Sri Lanka.

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Sri Lanka sails in to the breach as ships by-pass Middle East over Houthi attacks

Sri Lanka container volumes surge 30-pct in Feb amid Red Sea troubles

Container volumes at Colombo also surged 29 percent in February.

“We plan to make optimal use of HIP’s strategic location, capacity and expertise, to deliver the full potential the port is capable of, doing our part to enhance Sri Lanka’s regional hub status,” Liu said.

Shamal Perera, Director-Operations and Regional Operations Manager-Colombo representing MSC Geneva, said his company was looking for best options for customers given the current situation in shipping.  

“As a forward thinking Carrier, MSC will always evaluate available options in order to be flexible in providing the best services to our customers,” Perera was quoted as saying in the statement.

Sri Lanka’s Ports Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva supported HIP in granting the required approvals to facilitate the shipping connectivity between Hambantota and the Port of Colombo, Liu said.

Through this approval, local importers and exporters would be able to make direct shipments or transshipment of cargo to and from Hambantota to Colombo, the port said.

“Given the climate change environmental concerns in the logistics and supply chain industry, the shipping connectivity between the two Ports will make a significant impact in reducing green-house gas emissions as opposed to road transport,” the port said. (Colombo/Apr09/2024)

“After the Surveyor General’s assessment, the Port Authority has paid an advance of 52 million rupees to the Sri Lanka Cement Corporation,” Gunawardena told reporters on Tuesday announcing the week’s Cabinet decisions.

“Accordingly these identified lands will be transferred legally as per State Lands Ordinance 6 (1) to the Kankasanthurai Port for its development.”

India recently pledged 61.5 million dollars in grant aid to develop Kankasanthurai Port in the island’s Northern Jaffna peninsula.

As part of the project, a new breakwater will be constructed, and the port will be dredged up to a depth of 30 metres to accommodate deep-draft vessels

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The KKS Port began operations as a commercial port coinciding with the establishment of the Cement Factory in Kankesanthurai in 1950.

The Sri Lanka Cement Corporation, with around 5,000 acres of mineral resource-rich land, is to be restructured, the State Minister of Primary Industries said earlier this year. (Colombo/Apr9/2024)

State-run Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited said the Access will be paid by its own funds and concurrence has been obtained from the Japan International Co-operation Agency which was funding the terminal expansion.

Access will work under the direct supervision of consultants to the project, Japan Airport Consultants, Inc and Nippon Koei Co. Ltd.

Access will install 68 remaining piles, construct pile caps and ground beams at the Main Terminal Building (MTB), Pier 2, and Pier 3, as well as the partial completion of an underground utility tunnel in Pier No 2 and 3.

The work will also address the issue of deterioration of steel reinforcements.

The work will reduce the cost and time required for carrying out substructure works of the project when a new contractor is found for the project later, AASL said.

Sri Lanka’s cabinet of ministers last week approved the award of the contract to Access Engineering. (Colombo/Apr08/2024)

The minister said at a discussion that the objective is to turn the Hingurakgoda airport into an airport dedicated to civil aviation.

“The previous budget had allocated 2 billion rupees for this for this year. Until the construction of the airport is complete, from annual budget estimates, the money needed for this will be provided.

“Our final target is like Mattala and Palali to make this a dedicated airport for civil aviation, not domestic but international,” he said.

The Hingurakgoda airport, originally known as Royal Air Force Minneriya, airport goes back to the days of World War II, serving as a base for the British Royal Air Force. (Colombo/Apr05/2024)

Up to February 2024, transshipment volumes were up 27.2 percent.

Meanwhile domestic container volumes were also picking up as the economy recovered from a currency crisis and tourism inflows boosted incomes of the people, driving more imports, despite foreign reserve collections.

Domestic containers surged 39 percent to 92,097 in February 2024, from 66,236 in February 2022.

Sri Lanka’s total container volumes in February were up 30.3 percent to 1,337,557 TEUS.

In 2023 Colombo Port handled 6.951 million TEUs, up 1.17 percent from a year ago.

Related Sri Lanka sails in to the breach as ships by-pass Middle East over Houthi attacks

Container yards at Colombo terminals are full as the port copes with traffic disrupted by the Red Sea attacks.

Shipping industry officials say Mediterranean ports are also facing similar surges in traffic. (Colombo/Apr05/2024)