CSC Kandia (Pvt) Ltd, (pending BOI approval), which is a joint venture company between Ceylon Shipping Corporation Ltd. (CSC) and Ariston Oil and Shipping (Pvt) Ltd was awarded Licence by the Ministry of Petroleum and Petroleum Resources Development to carry out bunkering operations in Sri Lanka.

Ceylon Shipping Corporation Ltd., Chairman Y. L. S. Hameed, stated that “the Licence which comes into effect from July 15, will permit CSC Kandia (Pvt) Ltd, to import, store, distribute and supply petroleum fuel to ships entering the Sri Lankan waters.”

“The awarding of the Bunkering Licence is another very important milestone in an ambitious journey embarked upon by the new management team appointed by Ports and Aviation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa with a view to bringing back the past glory of the Ceylon Shipping Corporation Ltd,” said CSC Executive Director Mayantha Dissanayake.

“We have been given a clear mandate to revitalize CSC and with the blessings of the Minister, we continue to seek innovative methods of further improving our business,” it was pointed out.

The forces behind this new joint venture are the teams headed by Hameed and Dissanayake who have found an ideal partner for this operation in Ariston Oil and Shipping (Pvt) Ltd given the backing of their parent company which has 45 years of experience and expertise in the oil and shipping industry and most importantly the resources and access to key decision makers globally in this sector.

These efforts are in line with the vision of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to develop the maritime industry of Sri Lanka to the highest international standards using the country’s key advantage of strategic location.“The direct involvement of Mr. Pyrros Vardirioyannis, the Chairman of Ariston Oil and Shipping (Pvt) Ltd who hails from a well reputed Greek family with a long maritime business tradition established by his late father, Nicos Vardinoyannis, will further strengthen the ambitious plans of the Ceylon Shipping Corporation Ltd.” says Ms. Davina Valaydon, Director of Ariston Oil and Shipping. According to her, Ariston Oil and Shipping will work hand in hand with the Ceylon Shipping Corporation on a number of different projects, which will help develop the industry and earn foreign exchange for the country.
(DM25072008)