GAC partners with Hemas to build an integrated logistics facility in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka,31 January 2017:  GAC Sri Lanka has partnered with Hemas Transportation to build an integrated logistics facility in Muthurajawela Industrial Zone in the western part of Sri Lanka. It will comprise a state-of-the-art distribution centre, a container yard and a 15-acre warehouse. A groundbreaking ceremony, graced by the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, the Honorable Ranil Wickramasinghe, was held today. The facility is expected to be operational by early June 2017 and the distribution centre by February 2018. 

State-of-the-art facility
This new integrated logistics facility will be equipped with the latest reach stackers and will harness a cutting-edge IT platform aimed at innovating Sri Lanka's logistics system. It will consist of a modern container terminal with a capacity of 6,000 TEUs made up of seven high container stacking and a warehousing and distribution centre offering Third Party Logistics (3PL) services. 

Other unique features include a two-way approach to stacks in the container depot and a dual in and out gate that operates independently. The facility will enlist the services of Institute of International Container Lessors (IICL) certified container inspectors who will survey containers entering the depot, benchmarking against global standards.

Employing global best practices
The distribution centre will consist of 22,000 pallet positions with both ambient and temperature-controlled facilities. Global best practices in layout design, dock efficiency, pallet racking and material handling equipment will be incorporated to enable agile and scalable logistics solutions. The entire distribution centre's operation will run on an integrated IT platform that encompasses warehouse management, distribution management and yard management capabilities with barcode and RFID enabled infrastructure.

Mr Mahesh Kurukulasuriya, Managing Director of GAC Sri Lanka said this new venture was a significant step forward for the company. “GAC in Sri Lanka has come a long way. From an eight-men outfit operating from Colombo in 1991, we have grown into one of the country's leaders in the provision of key specialised support services today with more than 260 employees. This integrated logistics facility is a testament of our unyielding commitment towards meeting our customers' ever-changing needs through constant innovation.