Port services expand by 16.9 per cent

The cargo handling storage and warehousing sub sector expanded by 15 per cent and was largely driven by performance in port services. Port services expanded by 16.9 per cent in comparison to a growth of 12.8 per cent in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

During this period, Colombo Port, including South Asia Gateway Terminal (SAGT), handled a volume of 609,756 Twenty Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), a 16.9 per cent increase. Transhipment volumes, which account for over two third of the total throughput handled, expanded by 17.4 per cent, while domestic throughput volume grew by 17.9 per cent according to Central Bank figures in second quarter 2005.

Meanwhile air cargo volumes also expanded moderately by 2.4 per cent. The transport sub sector expanded by 4.2 per cent as against the growth of 5.3 per cent during the second quarter of the previous year. Growth in road haulage activities by 4.1 per cent was mainly owing to satisfactory performance in external trade activities.

Aviation services reported 12.6 per cent growth and passenger kilometres flown by the SriLankan Airlines had increased by 12.6 per cent, reflecting recovery form the sudden decline in total passenger kilometres during first quarter of the year which was a direct impact of the tsunami tragedy.

Further, total passenger kilometres flown by domestic airlines increased by 23.1 per cent.