A train load of export containers entered the Colombo port last month, for the first time in four decades, in an exercise carried out by SG Logistics, part of the Expolanka group.
The containers originating from Colombo carried empty containers to the Prima Factory in Trincomalee. The laden containers then travelled back from Trincomalee to the Colombo Port, the company said in a statement.
“A train can generally carry around 20-24TEUs. However, we decided to carry out the first operation with just 10TEUs as we were unsure of the local track conditions for the operation.
It was 100% successful – and a special thank you should go out to all the Government authorities involved who were extremely cooperative in this,” Ms. Niroza Gazzali, CEO, SG Logistics.
B. A. P. Ariyaratne, General Manager of Sri Lanka Railways said SG Logistics (Pvt) Ltd was successful in regenerating this operation (when goods were transferred by train to the port) by moving 10 containers on rail flats to the Colombo Port for exports.
“This is quite a big achievement after four decades, taking into consideration that all these operations were done by making use of the very limited and existing resources we currently have,” he added.
Traditionally in Sri Lanka, containers are transported via road – sometimes posing many logistical challenges and sometimes even leading to unforeseen delays. |
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