FPS Sri Lanka – a founder member of the FPS Group of independent forwarders and consolidators - has opened a new office in Galle, 120km south of the country’s capital Colombo. The new branch will act as a satellite of FPS’ main Colombo operations centre, providing the company’s full portfolio of multi-modal forwarding, logistics and consolidation services to the local business community, and acting as a local control centre for the entire southern region, including the port of Hambanthota. Situated on the south western tip of Sri Lanka, Galle is the country’s fourth largest city, with 900,000 inhabitants. It is the administrative capital and main port city of the southern province, and incorporates a free trade zone for the manufacture of garments and other accessories. The area is also a major producer of spices, coconut products and handicrafts. Exports and imports through the new office are expected to be well balanced. Galle is well-served by rail and road connections; the new Southern Expressway is Sri Lanka's first E Class highway, linking the city with the Sri Lankan capital, and cutting journey time from three hours to one hour. “The opening of the new office coincides with steady growth in FPS Sri Lanka’s freight forwarding business,” says MD Gihan Nanayakkara. “This new base enables us to improve services to our existing customers, while attracting new business from this increasingly important region.”