Transport & Logistics

Often referred to as the pearl of South Asia, Sri Lanka’s strategic position at the southernmost point between Africa, the Middle East and East Asia has supported its transformation into a leading global shipping hub. The Port of Colombo now stands as the largest and busiest in the region, benefitting from years of investment that have significantly increased handling capacity and cargo volumes. With a host of ambitious upgrades to the country’s ports now completed, the administration of newly elected President Maithripala Sirisena is renewing its focus on the island’s interior, where poor transport infrastructure has constrained access to basic services and overall economic growth, while stifling tourism potential.

This chapter contains interviews with Nelson Liu, Overseas Operations Officer, China Merchants Holdings International; and Hanif Yusoof, Group CEO, ExpoLanka Holdings.