CILT Sri Lanka successfully holds 36th AGM

Seated (from left): Treasurer Upali Gunawardena, Immediate past Chairperson Gayani de Alwis, Vice President Dr. Namali Sirisoma, Vice President Chaminda Perera, CILTSL President Channaka De Alwis, Vice President Gihan Jayasinghe, Secretary Ajith Ekanayake, Niral Kadawatharatchie, and H.A. Premaratne

Standing (from left): Dr. Renuka Herath, Wijesiri Silva, Vijitha Weerasinghe, Dr. Priyangani Jayasundera, Dr. H.R. Pasindu, Dhashma Karunaratne, Chandima Hulangamuwa, Henry De Silva, and Shamith Wijethilake

Channaka De Alwis delivering his acceptance speech as the newly elected President of CILT Sri Lanka

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Sri Lanka (CILTSL) held their 36th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Friday (31 July) at the Auditorium of the National Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka while adhering to the COVID-19 regulations published by the Government and recommendations/advice given by the Ministry of Health regarding social distancing and sanitisation.

The following members were elected as office bearers of CILTSL for the year 2020: President – Channaka De Alwis, Vice President – Gihan Jayasinghe, Vice President – Dr. Namali Sirisoma, Vice President – Chaminda Perera, Honorary Secretary – Agjith Ekanayake, and Honorary Treasurer – Upali Gunawardena.

Furthermore the following members were elected to the CILTSL Council: Niral Kadawatharatchie, Dr. H.R. Pasindu, Henry Silva, Dr. Y.M.M.S. Bandara, Channaka Gunathilake, Gayathri Karunanayake, Dr. Renuka Herath, Dr. Priyangani Jayasundera, Dhashma Karunaratne, H.A. Premaratne, Ibrahim Saleem, Vijitha Weerasinghe, Chandima Hulangamuwa, Shamith Wijethilake, and K.C. Wijesiri Silva. All the above appointees were elected unanimously as office bearers and council members. 

Below are some salient points from the speech delivered by CILTSL’s new President Channaka De Alwis: 

“CILTSL can play a pivotal role in expanding these new horizons for its members, the industry at large, the policymakers and the State. In the post-COVID-19 age, it is predicted that logistics hubs will emerge at a regional level. The transformation from globalisation to regionalisation is the inevitable reality that we can take home from the pandemic. In the post-COVID-19 world, regional sourcing will be a fact of life. 

“It is a superficial reading of current trends, but they contain the seeds of pragmatic reason. The world will come up with solutions that will insulate it from future turmoil caused by viruses and microbes that defy science and technology, however advanced. The new logistics hubs that emerge at the regional level will need to be more flexible and adaptable to attract suppliers and buyers who will have their own benchmarks in service quality.  “The airline industry is experiencing its worst challenges in history with many airlines filing for bankruptcy. In the post-COVID-19 world, capacity can be a greater liability. The aviation industry and international movement of goods and people will undergo drastic upheavals and technology will again be the main driver. Touch-less travel will be the new norm. Exchanging travel documents and touching surfaces through check-in, security, border control, and boarding will see new systems in place. Provision of great holiday experiences will depend on the service providers’ capacity to guarantee an infection-free experience. 

“Automation will be the new order. Biometrics are already a widely accepted solution for identity verification, and their use will become more widespread as physical fingerprint and hand scanners are phased out. More touch-less options will come into play, including contactless fingerprint, as well as iris and face recognition. Moreover, technology for touch-less data-entry, such as gesture control, touch-less document scanning, and voice commands are already being tested. 

“We, in Sri Lanka, must keep pace with global developments. It is no longer a question of catching up at our own pace. If we are to be a logistics and transport hub in the region, we cannot follow the curve. The only place we can be in is ahead of the curve. Our internal surface transport is no exception. This transformative environment is an opportunity in adversity. It is an ideal opportunity to rethink our approach to logistics and transport. Let us be realistic about what we need to know and do.

“The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) UK has released a white paper that makes 14 recommendations to encourage the Government to realign its policies for exiting the COVID-19 lockdown, to work alongside the goal of significantly reducing greenhouse gases and improving the nation’s air quality. CILT UK Chief Executive Kevin Richardson makes an interesting observation. 

“Public transport is fundamental to the economy, the environment and for effectively and efficiently supporting the movement of people. The Government and devolved local authorities must work with the profession to ensure that capacity and connectivity is maintained so that our transport networks are capable of delivering an efficient service that people can rely on to be convenient, cost-effective and coherent in a post-COVID-19 world”. I would agree with Kevin. It is a healthy precedent by CILT UK, which we perhaps should emulate. 

“I must acknowledge the substantial contribution of my immediate predecessor. I will rely on her advice as I have always done. I must also acknowledge the good work performed by the council and secretariat. I hope that they will treat me kindly and with tolerance while I devote myself to maintaining and improving what is already performing well. Before I conclude, I would like to thank all senior members of CILT and past chairs – some of whom I have had the pleasure of serving with for the last 10 years – for always being there to guide and assist me. I would expect no less in the future.”

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) is a 100-year-old leading global professional body associated with the logistics, transport and supply chain industry. The institute holds unparalleled international recognition and works towards achieving its objectives of promoting and encouraging the art and science of logistics and transport through its membership and its educational qualifications. 

With a global membership of over 35,000 from 36 countries across the globe, CILT provides a professional identity to those in the ever-expanding logistics and transport sector. It is a strong, active and unified professional association that is able to speak with authority on strategic issues affecting businesses and people in the industry and support their careers.