Orient Express Lines celebrates 20 years in grand style

Feeder operator Orient Express Lines celebrated its 20th anniversary after commencing operations in Sri Lanka in grand style by hosting its stakeholders on the Jetliner on 14 September.

OEL, which commenced feeder operations in Sri Lanka in 1992, has been continuously serving Sri Lanka uninterrupted thereafter.

The customers, which mainly constituted of a major part of the shipping fraternity, were treated to a short voyage on the Jetliner followed by cocktails and dinner.

OEL Vice President Marius Gomez opened proceedings by addressing the gathering, thanking all stakeholders for their unconditional support which has helped OEL to become one of the major feeder operators in Sri Lanka accounting for annual throughput over the Port of Colombo of over 225,000 TEUs.

OEL Chairman S. Ramakrishnan thereafter addressed the guests and particularly thanked the Sri Lanka Ports Authority for their wholehearted support and presented a special memento to SLPA Chairman Dr. Priyath Wickrama to mark the 20 years of association.

Finally Dr. Wickrama and SLPA Managing Director Capt. Nihal Keppitipola addressed the gathering and thanked the management of OEL for patronising JCT.

Coincidentally, the Transworld Group of Companies to which OEL belongs, is completing 35 years this year and to coincide with this the group is diversifying into the bulk business, where three vessels are currently being built. The first one of them is due to be launched during the first week of October 2012.