The government statistics department said the cargo handling sector had grown by 6.3 percent during the third quarter of the year.

The Census and Statistic Department (CSD) said the total number of containers handled by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has increased by 11.9 percent during the same period.

TEUs and cargo throughput handled by SLPA increased by 1.4 percent and 13.2 respectively.

The department said in August 2008, SLPA had recorded the highest monthly container throughput of 185,099 TEUs.

It said that air cargo handled by national carrier SriLankan Airlines had decreased by 0.9 percent during the third quarter while passenger flights had declined by 14.1 percent.

The railway sector had grown by 3.6 percent with transport of goods increasing by 8.7 percent.

The overall transport sector had recorded a 4.9 percent growth during the third quarter compared to the same period of 2007.

(DD)