Dart Global Logistics expands footprint with USD 10 Mn KIPZ facility

Dart Global Logistics Group has invested USD 10 million to open DGL Free Zone Ltd. at the Katunayake Investment Promotion Zone (KIPZ), further strengthening the country’s logistics and supply chain infrastructure.

Group Managing Director and Group CEO Jude Wijesundera said the facility had been designed as a modern, high-capacity logistics and value-addition centre comprising approximately 135,000 square feet of storage and value-addition space.

He said the company’s profits had been reinvested in the project.

Wijesundera recalled that the Group commenced operations in 1983 and said its operations had supported the country during its transformation from a closed economy to an open economy.

The facility incorporates a 10-level racking system with a total capacity equivalent to approximately 450 40-foot containers of cargo. It is structured across three chambers, enabling it to accommodate multiple commodity verticals, while more than 25 cargo docks support rapid loading and unloading.

In addition to ambient storage, the facility can cater to temperature- and humidity-controlled requirements. Dedicated value-addition centres on mezzanine floors will support services ranging from labelling and pick-and-pack activities to more complex operations. Three mezzanine floors are dedicated to value-addition activities and temperature-controlled cargo storage.

Operational visibility is supported by an international Tier 1 warehouse management system and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) scanning technology, providing improved inventory control and real-time visibility of cargo movements.

The facility has been developed at a time when regional supply chains are evolving and demand for flexible logistics solutions is increasing, particularly in specialised segments such as pharmaceuticals, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and temperature-controlled cargo.

“In addition to our existing customers, this facility has also attracted new clients, which will help us bring additional foreign exchange into the country,” Wijesundera said.

“DGL Free Zone addresses this requirement by providing international-class warehousing infrastructure, consolidation capabilities and value-addition services within a Free Zone environment,” he said.

Group Chairman Charles Wijesundera said the facility had been developed to support international businesses through multi-country consolidation, value-added logistics services and regional supply-chain solutions.

DGL Free Zone represents an investment in Sri Lanka’s ambition to strengthen its position as a regional logistics and supply-chain hub.

“The present Middle Eastern situation, together with increased demand from regional markets, highlights the potential for Sri Lankan Free Zones to play a greater role in regional supply chains,” Jude Wijesundera said.