The company opened the facility following a decision by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority the previous May (2012) to divert ro-ro vessels to Hambantota in an effort to cut congestion at Colombo Port (where it also has two facilities). Delays at the port at that time of up to 10 days had increased freight rates and, in turn, added to the selling price of vehicles in the local market. Special concessions were put in place for importers of vehicles to the Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa port, where Logiventures new hub will be sited.
Logiventures said the latest expansion is part of a strategy to enhance vehicle-handling services at Hambantota including pre-delivery inspection, closed storage and onward transport.
"Over the past 11 months, Logiventures has accounted for a dominant 70% share of the new vehicles cleared at the Hambantota Port, and we believe an expansion of our infrastructure is warranted," said Logiventures director Janitha Jayanetti.
He said the company's existing yard of 3.5 acres within one kilometre of the Hambantota port is already adequately supported by the Logiventures car carrier fleet, which is the largest in Sri Lanka, enabling the company to transport up to 60 units a day from Hambantota.
Logiventures has installed loading ramps that are designed and manufactured in-house to suit the exact requirements of customers and the vehicles they import. The company also has trailers ranging from 15 to 90 feet to carry any type of vehicle or truck weighing up to 80 tonnes, Jayanetti said.
Logiventures has been providing automotive logistics services to leading vehicle importers since 2006.
