Dr. Jayamanna assumes duties as new SLPA Chairman; promises to fast-track development

Dr. Prasantha Jayamanna assuming duties as the Chairman of SLPA. Also in the picture are Ports and Shipping Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Shipping U.D.C. Jayalal, SLPA MD Upul Jayatissa, Sri Lanka Shipping Corporation Chairman W.S. Weeraman and Private Secy. to Minister of Ports and Shipping Sarath Kumara

Dr. Prasantha Jayamanna yesterday assumed duties as the Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) following the appointment by Ports and Shipping Minister Rohitha Abeygu-nawardena.

Prior to his new appointment, Dr. Jayamanna served as the Vice Chairman.

Dr. Jayamanna is a Doctor of Business Administration, most awarded Youngest Entrepreneur in Sri Lanka, and a leadership lecturer with vast knowledge in the implementation of strategic solutions. 

He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Western Sydney – Australia, OPM from the Harvard Business School and LPI from Harvard University. He is a certified Lecturer for the Australian Institute of Business (AIB), Australian Institute of Management (AIM), Heriot Watt University – UK, University of Bedfordshire – UK. He is also a visiting Lecture for the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), and a MSc, MBA and PhD Lecturer for all above institutions from 2012 onward. 

Expressing his views, the new SLPA Chairman expressed his gratitude to Minister Abeygunawardena for appointing him. He said that the development agenda prepared on the instructions by the Minister, through about 15 Cabinet papers for a diverse array of port sector development programs, will be expedited aiming at enhanced benefits to the national economy, and to boost efficiency and productivity of the Sri Lankan port sector.

“Our objective, through collective efforts is to develop the Sri Lankan port sector towards the expected objectives of the maritime and port industry as expressed in the policy statement ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’ of His Excellency President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and make Sri Lanka the maritime hub of South Asia,” Jayamanna added.

Jayamanna is the Founder/Chairman of DPJ Holdings and affiliated companies. He also sits on the Boards of several publicly listed and private companies such as South Asia Gateway Terminals Ltd. (SAGT), Colombo International Container Terminals Ltd. (CICT), Hambantota International Port Group Company Ltd. (HIPG), Hambantota International Port Services Company Ltd. (HIPS), and Lanka Coal Company Ltd.

Minister Abeygunawardena said that through the appointment of Dr. Jayamanna, he expects to launch a new journey in the Sri Lankan port sector to make a brighter future by successfully overcoming the challenges in the next three years.

He also said that all port sector development projects, including the East Container Terminal (ECT) of the Port of Colombo should be successfully completed to commence operations during the tenure of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

“Already about two years out of the five-year tenure of the present Government have been subjected to challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the next three years therefore, is a time that all should work with a greater responsibility with an accurate course of duty to overcome all challenges,” Minister Abeygunawardena added.

Ministry Secretary U.D.C. Jayalal, SLPA Board Directors, including its Managing Director Upul Jayatissa, several higher officials of institutions of the line Ministry, SLPA Additional Managing Director – Technical Susantha Abeysiriwardana, SLPA Heads of Divisions, representatives of local shipping agents, Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents (CASA) Chairperson Shehara de Silva and several SLPA trade union representatives were also present at the occasion.