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Aitken Spence (/eɪɪtkinˈspɛns/ay-t-k-i-n-s-p-e-n-s),

During the early 1960s and early 1970s, Insuarance and Plantations sectors -- which were core business segments of Aitken Spence, where the Company had been well established at the time-- were nationalized. However, the Group's marine insurance segment (including its Lloyd Agency) continued to operate as it did not fall within the purview of nationalization.

Despite the setbacks from nationalization, in realizing the then government's thrust to boost the tourism sector, Aitken Spence intensified its investments in tourism with its entrance in to Travels segment in 1970 (as inbound and outbound tour operators in Sri Lanka and as agents for Eurail and Britrail); Aviation in 1974 (as general sales agent for Singapore Airlines in Sri Lanka); and Hotels in 1974 (with Neptune Hotel in Beruwala, Sri Lanka). Tourism is now a core business segment of Aitken Spence.

With Sri Lanka adopting open market economic policies focused on export led growth in 1977, Aitken Spence forayed further into new business segments : Container and allied services in 1979; Garments and apparels in 1979;,International courier service agency with TNT in 1981; and Elevators in 1989 as agent of OTIS;. With insurance sector being deregulated in the 1980s, the Group played a pivotal role in the resurgence of private sector insuarance as a proponent of the National Insurance Corporation and Union Assuarance Ltd, stakes in which Aitken Spence subsequently divested. Aitken Spence reentered Plantations sector, when the sector was reprivatized in 1992, through its stake in Udapussellawa Plantation PLC that was later divested.

In response to the Power Crisis in Sri Lanka in 1996, Aitken Spence began to explore investment opportunities in power generation sector, with first two power plants coming online in 2002. The Group also maintained container vessel operations, with acquisition of five ships in a joint venture with Ceyline Group in 2003, which it later divested in 2008. In 2010, in continuing its partnership with Ceyline Group, Aitken Spence invested in CINEC, Sri Lanka's largest private higher education institution.

Logistic Solutions

Aitken Spence Logistics offers integrated container logistic solutions from cargo consolidation, transport, and storage to container repair and modifications

Aitken Spence is the largest Sri Lankan logistics services provider-- with operations in 5 countries (Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives,South Africa and Mozambique)-- that has a product portfolio and service offering that covers and facilitates the complete physical cargo flow process from shipper to recipient. Aitken Spence also handles third and fourth party logistics management contracts and provides consultancy services on port operations.

In Sri Lanka, Aitken Spence offers integrated solutions in cargo consolidation and storage facilities; intermodal transportation; container related services; non-container related cargo handling and transport, including heavy over dimensional project cargo and fuel transport; and service agencies for air cargo, maritime services and freight forwarding.

Cargo Consolidation and Storage Facilities

Aitken Spence offers both local and multi country cargo consolidation in Sri Lanka. It operates its own container freight station with in-house customs that complies with C-TPAT standards. It also services shipments of garments through its garments on hanger facilities and quality assurance centre facilities at Welisara. The company also offers refrigerated storage services in terms of cold rooms and reefer containers to its clients.

With respect to warehousing facilities in Sri Lanka, Aitken Spence operates a central cargo storage complex in Mabole and a network of regional complexes located in Wattala, Welisara, Kandana, Mattakkuliya, Koggala and Mihintale.

Container Handling, Repair and Modification Facilities

The container services arm of Aitken Spence Logistics that processes a container every two minutes is the first company in Sri Lanka to operate its own container depot (first at Mattakkuliya in 1979 and shifted to Mabole in 1989). In addition, Aitken Spence also runs a Lloyd’s approved facility for container modification and repair services.

Ground Transport and Project Cargo Handling

Aitken Spence also offers its customers in Sri Lanka, transportation solutions through its transport fleet of prime movers with 20’/40’ trailers, lorries and tank trucks (servicing shipments of heavy furnace oil). The Group is also capable in handling Heavy Over-Dimensional Project cargo. It is also the agent for Flexi Tank Services in Sri Lanka for Trans Ocean Distribution.

Frieght Forwarding, Courier Services and Air Cargo

Colombo Express, a liner vessel represented in Sri Lanka through Aitken Spence Maritime

In addition to its own logistics solutions, Aitken Spence also provides freight forwarding solutions through its global partner network. Aitken Spence Cargo, specialized freight-forwarding arm of Aitken Spence, provides air freight, sea freight, brokerage, customs facilitation and supply chain solutions to clients in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Maldives.

Aitken Spence handles cargo sales agencies for Singapore Airlines Cargo, Livingston Air, Air Jamaica, Air Italy, My Travels, Qatar Airways Cargo and EVA Air in Sri Lanka. It is also the General Sales Agents (Cargo) for My Travels in Maldives & Bangladesh; Livingston Air in Bangladesh, Singapore and Thailand; Continental Airlines Cargo in Bangladesh, while being the cargo sales agents for Livingston Air and SriLankan Airlines Cargo in the Maldives.

Aitken Spence Group represents TNT Express courier services in Sri Lanka and provides both domestic and international courier services solutions. It also represents Spring Global Mail in Sri Lanka.

Maritime Services

Aitken Spence offers multitude of services in the maritime sector through its maritime wing, Aitken Spence Maritime. Its services include liner agency representation, cruise vessel representation, feeder and casual caller representation, break bulk facilities, and ship servicing and facilitation (crew services, bunkering, repairs, supply of provisions) for ports in Sri Lanka. It also provides ship chartering services.

In January 2005, in a joint venture with Ceyline Holdings, Aitken Spence re-entered the ship owning for time charter business in order to profit from the then shipping boom.In 2007, with the saturation of the ship chartering market, Aitken Spence exited the ship owning business and shifted its strategic focus to expanding its port management business.

In 2007, Aitken Spence in partnership with Port of Singapore Authority submitted a joint bid to build and operate the South Container Terminal of the Colombo Port Expansion Project. When the initial bidding process of Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA) stalled and was reactivated, Aitken Spence partnered with China Merchant Holdings International and was the sole bidder in support of the project. In 2010, the bid was approved by SLPA and construction began on the USD $450mn project.. However in 2012, citing cost escalations and changes in financing requirements, Aitken Spence sold its stake to CMHI in 2012, realizing a LKR Rs. 630mn capital gain.

Aitken Spence is the first Sri Lankan company to venture into port efficiency improvement, training and container terminal management overseas with its operations in the African continent. As a result of the strategic partnership with the Port of Durban from 2006, Aitken Spence won a "ship planning and mentoring" project covering the Ports of Durban, Cape Town and Ngqura in South Africa in 2010. In 2011, Aitken Spence announced that it has won a deal to improve the efficiency of Port of Nacala in Mozambique. In 2013, Aitken Spence announced plans to take over the management of two Fijian ports, Suva and Lautoka, with its proposed purchase of 51% of Ports Terminal Ltd, a 100% owned subsidiary of Fiji Ports Corporation Ltd.

In 2010, Aitken Spence renewed its alliance with Ceyline Group of Companies when it invested in Colombo International Nautical and Engineering College (CINEC). In 2012, Aitken Spence increased its stake in CINEC from 10% to 40% in a move to further strengthen its maritime portfolio.