Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) was awarded the Ports Authority of the Year 2018 Award by the Global Ports Forum (GPF). The 4th GPF awards ceremony followed by the conference forum was held last week at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Mr.Upul Jayatissa – Chief Manager (Marketing & Business Development) and Mr.Nalin Aponso Chief Manager (Communication and Public Relations) received the award for Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) from Mrs.Muna Al Maeeni – Deputy Director Economic and Trade Affairs Department of the Ministry of foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the UAE.
The two day ports forum that commenced on 21st February 2018 also included discussions on key topics that consisted of Port Strategy and Developments, Port Automation, Port Finance and Port Efficiency.
From the cosmopolitan global port city of Singapore, the entrepreneurial decision was taken in 2008 to found and launch the Global Ports Forum (GPF). The awards ceremony is organized annually by the GPF, in continuation of the commitment of improving global ports and furthering the interests of ports globally through collaborations among members of the port eco system. The Global Port Forum Awards 2018 aimed to recognize the most valuable contribution made by organizations and professionals in different areas of Ports and Terminals Industry and acknowledge their roles and achievements in different categories. The awards are awarded based on the nominations received by the Global Ports Forum (GPF) and also in recognition of the important contributions and achievements made by organizations and professionals across the industry during the previous year.
The South Asia Gateway Terminal of the Port of Colombo that received the ‘Best Terminal in South Asia’ Award for the Indian Sub Continent at the GPF awards 2017 held in Dubai won the award this year too securing the award for the second consecutive year.
Under the leadership of Hon.Minister of Ports and shipping Mahinda Samarasinghe, and instructions by the Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Dr.Parakrama Dissanayake the positive increase at SLPA controlled Jaya Container Terminals especially the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) is reasoned towards direct and straight forward decisions reached by the Management, that has also won employee recognition and credibility for such implementations. The Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) owned and operated by Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), has expressed steady growth of operating volumes since October 2017. Accordingly, container operations at the JCT has increased by 5.3% in October, 8.2% in November and 13.9% in December 2017. At present, productivity at the JCT has increased by 3.2% for Feeder Vessels and 9.4% for Main Lines.
The relationship between the Management and SLPA trade unions, collaborative support by all parties and stake holders engaged in the port operations process has effectively contributed for the increase of productivity at Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). Creating history, the Port of Colombo for the first time has recorded 6.2 million container operations in December last year.
SLPA at present, has prepared a Three Year Development Plan to expedite the port sector development process in the country to further increase container volumes. These developments are aimed at making Sri Lanka the Maritime Centre in Asia.
