Forum to highlight opportunities in oil and ocean for business

Monday, 29 September 2014 01:16 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Two eminent speakers and policy drivers from the Government of Sri Lanka will present and discuss economic prospects of petroleum and the extended continental shelf of Sri Lanka on 2 October 2014 at the Sri Lanka Foundation, Colombo 7, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The forum is organised by the Shippers’ Academy Colombo, an academic organisation focused on capacity and knowledge building of the industry. The two hot topics discussed are current issues and will have long term impact for the Sri Lankan economy and its maritime activity. Saliya Wickramasuriya the former Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and also a former Chairman and Director General of the Board of Investment (BOI) and the current Chairman, Petroleum Resources Development Secretariat (PRDS) – President’s office will make a presentation on ‘Sri Lanka petroleum resources, where are we and what next?’ The Petroleum Resources Development Secretariat (PRDS) was established under the Petroleum Resources Act, No 26 of 2003. The mandate of the Secretariat includes discharge of such functions as are to be assigned to it from time to time, by the Cabinet of Ministers. The PRDS has also been assigned much of the functions of the Petroleum Resources Development Committee which it is directed to assist through the Act. Chris Dharmakirti currently sits on the board of the largest state-owned enterprise reform entity, the Strategic Enterprise Management Agency (SEMA) in Sri Lanka. He is also the Chairman of the National Ocean Affairs Committee (NOAC), a cabinet appointed position that puts him in overall charge of steering the Continental Shelf Margin Claim before the UN, under Convention of the Law of the Sea as well as the overall policy for ocean affairs in Sri Lanka Dharmakirti will talk on the subject: ‘Is Sri Lanka ready to exploit the biggest economic asset the country will possess once the claim for the vast Bay of Bengal seabed resources is awarded by the United Nations?’ Interested parties could register by contacting the Shippers’ Academy Colombo on 3560844 or 0773820703 and on email [email protected]. Register online at www.shippersacademy.lk.