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Saturday Dec 14, 2024
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By Harsha Udayakantha Peiris
The Port of Colombo is always not only the port of call for the largest container vessels of the maritime world but also one of the best ports offered in the region for passenger vessels as well. With its quicker turnaround facilities and services, it has now become one of the most preferred ports by world class cruise operators inviting their callers to visit this beautiful and diverse country in the Indian Ocean.
The latest to the addition is the super luxury MS Le Laperouse of France to call the Ports of Colombo, Galle and Trincomalee. The vessel carrying 145 passengers and 113 crew made its maiden call at the Port of Colombo on Friday 21 December. In order to mark her maiden call at the Port of Colombo’s Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) controlled terminal, a celebrative plaque exchange was held onboard between the Harbour Master of SLPA Capt. Nirmal Silva and the Master of the vessel Capt. Florion Richard amidst a special delegation of invitees from the Embassy of France in Sri Lanka with the initiative of Eric Lavertu – the Ambassador of France in Sri Lanka and Maldives. Master of the vessel Capt. Florion Richard at the ceremony stated that the visit to Sri Lanka with the vessel and all its passengers onboard was a very good and appreciative opportunity for a cultural exchange between France and Sri Lanka.
“MS Le Laperouse built in Norway is one of the most luxurious vessels of a fleet of six belonging to France’s COMPAGNIE DU PONANT, the cruise arm of one of the world’s largest container shipping lines CMA CGM. With an overall length of 131.46m and a draft of 6.80m the vessel offers 92 passenger cabins for 184 passengers onboard. The vessel is also equipped with several world-class restaurant and bar areas, swimming pools, a state-of-the-art theatre auditorium, an underwater aqua-restaurant that projects the true colour of the ocean beneath, a state-of-the-art gymnasium, a modern sonar, and also a submarine for underwater exploration during the voyage,” CMA CGM Lanka Ltd. Director Kalinga Seneviratne explained. CMA CGM Lanka Ltd., a subsidiary of the blue chip conglomerate Hayleys Group, acts the local agent for the vessel.
Expressing views onboard MS Le Laperouse at her maiden call at the Port of Colombo, Capt. Nirmal Silva – Harbour Master of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) said that there was no doubt that her passengers would have one of their most enjoyable visits in Colombo and suburbs during their voyage in Laperouse. He further remarked that with timely concerns towards boosting the industry of tourism in Sri Lanka and with the implementation of the master plan to develop the Port of Colombo, future passenger vessels at the port will have a fully-fledged state of the art terminal with all modern facilities for quicker and uplifted services. The Harbour Master also thanked the Master of the vessel for selecting the three Ports of Colombo, Galle and Trincomalee on the current voyage of Le Laperouse.
With 47 cruise ships having been called at Port of Colombo during the year, a remarkable growth of passenger vessels calling at the Port of Colombo has been reported. According to the records of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) this is an increase of more than 28.8% against the corresponding period in 2017.
The record-breaking growth is also a significant achievement following the declaration of years 2017, 2018 and 2019 as tourism and investment years of Sri Lanka by the present government with the objective of making Sri Lanka a socio-economically prosperous country. These years have been declared to ease the planning for the next three years to overcome all challenges in the field of hospitality and related segments in Sri Lanka by 2020.
Speaking at the plaque ceremony onboard Le Laperouse, Hayleys Advantis Ltd. Managing Director Ruwan Waidyaratne said that this was a winning opportunity to welcome the luxurious vessel, its passengers, the Captain, staff and crew to this beautiful island at a time when several international trip advisors have rated Sri Lanka as the number one best place to visit. Speaking of success stories of the past, he said that with successful emergence of long lasting peace in the country, CMA CGM Lanka Ltd. (a subsidiary of the blue chip conglomerate, Hayleys Group through its long associated principal in France CMA CGM) commenced their world-renowned luxury cruise services in Sri Lanka in 2010. The maiden call of luxury cruise liner Mv. LE DIAMANT, was first to call at all three ports in the country (Colombo, Galle and Trincomalee respectively) on the same voyage.
“During that time the voyage was of great significance, since a cruise liner was touching the Port of Trincomalee, the world’s second largest natural harbour, after 30 years. I am happy that we could make it happen again this time with Le Laperouse. The local agents CMA CGM Lanka together with Hayleys Group are enthusiastic in supporting the ongoing tourist promotion initiatives,” he said.
SLPA Director (Logistics, Marketing and Business Development) Upul Jayatissa, CMA CGM Lanka Ltd. General Manager Uminda Dunuwille, CMA CGM Lanka Ltd. Deputy General Manager Kalinga Seneviratne, CMA CGM Lanka Ltd. Director Ikram Ghazali and representatives from the South Asia Gateway Terminals Ltd. of the Port of Colombo were also present at the welcome and plaque ceremony of the vessel at the Port of Colombo.
After Sri Lanka, the next ports of call by Le Laperouse will be Chennai, Malaysia and Singapore.
Pix by Arunalu Handagama
