GAC Sri Lanka celebrates 25 years, looks ahead with optimism

From left: GAC Group Vice-President, Legal and Compliance Andrew Leach, GAC Sri Lanka Managing Director Mahesh Kurukulasuriya, GAC Regional Manager, Freight Sales Peter Orange, GAC Group Vice President, Asia Pacific Fredrik Nyström, GAC Group Co-Chairman Björn Engblom, McLarens Holding Joint Managing Director Dinesh Jayawardena; GAC Shipping, Sri Lanka Director Rohan De Silva; GAC Group President Bengt Ekstrand and McLarens Holding Joint Managing Director Shehara Jayawardena

GAC Sri Lanka, part of the global shipping, logistics and marine services provider GAC Group, is celebrating 25 years of operations in the country. 

Made up of five companies – GAC Shipping Ltd., GAC Marine Services Ltd., GAC Logistics Ltd., McLarens Shipping Ltd. and McOcean Logistics Ltd. – GAC Sri Lanka is one of the country’s leaders in the provision of key specialised shipping, marine and logistics support services today with offices in Colombo, Galle, Trincomalee and Hambantota.

GAC Sri Lanka Managing Director Mahesh Kurukulasuriya says the company has always put its customers at the heart of its operations. “For example, when we pioneered the concept of ship supply services off port limits at Galle back in 1994, we eliminated the need for vessels to make a port call, thus helping our customers save time and money. GAC is also Sri Lanka’s only provider of ship-to-ship transfer services, using our own equipment and professional Mooring Masters, providing our customers with the highest standards of safety and professionalism.

“GAC Sri Lanka is only as good as its people and we are grateful to all past and present members of our team for their hard work, dedication and ‘can do’ attitude that ensures we deliver the best possible service to all our customers. Everything we do is underpinned by our commitment to quality, reliability and total integrated services. It is this commitment that allowed GAC Sri Lanka to handle more than 4,000 shipping, marine and logistics jobs in 2015 – a number that is only set to increase.”

GAC’s Group Vice President, Asia Pacific Fredrik Nyström shares his view on the outlook for Sri Lanka’s maritime sector and the companies like GAC that serve it: “While looking back over the company’s first quarter-century, we’re looking forward to what the future will bring. The outlook for growth in Sri Lanka’s maritime sector is optimistic. At a time when major global ports experienced declines in their cargo throughput, the Port of Colombo is bucking the trend and registered 5.9% growth in 2015. 

“The Colombo Port City Project and the proposed largest import and export liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) terminal in South Asia at Hambantota port, are expected to further augment Sri Lanka’s existing port infrastructure and increase handling capacities significantly. Any increase in ship arrivals and capacities bodes well for ship services providers like GAC. We are always ready to handle new businesses and increased volumes through innovation and constant upgrading of our resources and skills.”

GAC Sri Lanka’s 25th anniversary celebration was held at the Galle Face Hotel and was attended by customers, partners and colleagues from across the GAC Group including Group Co-Chairman, Björn Engblom, Group President, Bengt Ekstrand, Group Vice-President, Legal and Compliance, Andrew Leach and Group Vice President, Asia Pacific, Fredrik Nyström.