News
H’tota Port: Maiden visit of mega cruise ship Mein Schiff 6
Hambantota International Port (HIP) welcomed cruise ship Mein Schiff 6 on its maiden call at the port on 3rd December, marking another significant step in the port’s growing prominence as a South Asian cruise destination. The visit is the first after Cyclone Ditwah caused massive death and destruction in the last week of November.
The Malta-flagged, 2017-built vessel, measuring 295.17 metres, arrived from Colombo with 2289 passengers and 950 crew on board. After its stop at HIP, the ship will continue to Port Klang. The call was managed by Hapag-Lloyd as the local agent, with Aitken Spence Travels curating shore excursions for guests.
“We are delighted to welcome Mein Schiff 6 for the very first time,” said Tommy Yang, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG). “Each maiden call reinforces the confidence global cruise lines place in HIP’s growing capabilities, passenger services, and our commitment to delivering a seamless cruise experience.”
The visit further strengthens TUI Cruises’ engagement with HIP, following several successful calls by Mein Schiff 5 in recent cruise seasons. “TUI Cruises has been an important partner in showcasing southern Sri Lanka to international travellers,” added Mindaka Dassanayake, General Manager of Hapag-Lloyd Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd.
Renowned for its cruise-readiness, HIP combines deep-water berths and efficient maritime services with some of the highest international standards. HIP is the first port in Sri Lanka to achieve ISO certifications for quality, environmental management, and health and safety, emphasising its strong operational discipline.
Passengers disembarking from Mein Schiff
HIP is also recognised as one of the cleanest and most environmentally responsible ports in the region. “Sustainability is at the heart of our operations,” HIPG’s COO noted, highlighting initiatives such as HIP’s Green Port Policy, large-scale Green Zone tree-planting programme, and its pioneering Coral Reef Protection Project, supported by studies showing significant live coral coverage within the port’s breakwaters. “Our environmental achievements are an integral part of what makes Hambantota an attractive and responsible call for cruise lines.”
The arrival of Mein Schiff 6 marks another key milestone in HIP’s steady rise as a safe, clean, and future-ready cruise gateway to Sri Lanka’s deep south.
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
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AKD: Govt. agenda on track despite Ditwah disaster
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