CASA celebrates World Maritime Day

• Collaborates with Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (UK) and Sri Lanka branch
• Organises Maritime and Supply Chain International conference endorsed by Ministry of Ports and Shipping and Southern Development and SLPA

Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents (CASA) with Institute of Chartered Ship Brokers (UK)/Sri Lanka branch organises a Maritime and Supply Chain International Conference to celebrate the World Maritime Day declared by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). 

The international conference is the only Maritime and Supply chain conference endorsed by the Ministry of Ports and Shipping and Southern Development and Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). The sessions will be held on 25 September at Hotel Galadari starting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. followed by cocktails.

The day’s proceedings will be structured under five sessions. Ministry of Ports and Shipping and Southern Development Secretary Admiral S.S. Ranasinghe, UNCTAD Technology and Logistics Anila Premti and Sri Lanka Customs Deputy Director Seevali Arukgoda will speak at the first session titled ‘Maritime Industry – Navigating through challenging times’ and will be followed by a panel discussion which includes Customs Director General P.S.M. Charles and Merchant Shipping Director General A.W. Seneviratne. This session will be moderated by CASA Chairman and Aitken Spence Shipping Ltd.Managing Director Iqram Cuttilan. 

SLPA Managing Director Cpt. Athula Hewavitharana, Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) CEO Jack Huang, Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) CEO Ray Ren and South Asia Gateway Terminal (SAGT) Chief Commercial Officer Ted Muttiah will speak at the second session which is titled ‘Ports in the region and Sri Lanka – Do they complement or compete?’. 

This will be followed by a panel discussion with Sri Lanka Association of Vessel Operators (SLAVO) Chairman Shamal Perera. This session will be moderated by CASA Vice Chairperson and McLarens Shipping Ltd. Managing Director Shehara Jayawardana.

Session three is titled ‘Disruption in the Supply Chain’ and will be addressed by international speakers such as Maersk Head of Transformation/Automation R.D. Sathish Kumar, Maersk Startup Alliances and Open Innovation Leader P. Gowri Shankar, Freight Bro (Chennai, India) Marketing Head Bidisha Banik. 

Daraz COO Darshika Attanayake and Head of Transport Sajid Suhile will also present on the supply chain disruptions in the Sri Lankan E-Commerce space. The expert panellist for the session would be Lanka Canneries and Maliban Milk Products Management Consultant and Corporate Trainer Asoka Bandara moderated by Sri Lanka Logistics and Freight Forwarders’ Association (SLFFA) Chairman Roshan Silva.

Session four is dedicated to the IMO’s 2019 theme which is ‘Empowering women in the maritime community’ and will be addressed by former DG Shipping and World Maritime University Honorary Member Malini V. Shankar, Institute of Chartered Ship Brokers Middle East President Krishnan Subramaniam and CINEC Maritime Campus VP Prof. Cpt. Nalaka Jayakody followed by a panel discussion  with expert panellist Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Chairperson Catriona Jayasundara and moderated by SAGT Commercial and Marketing Manager Dhashma Karunaratne.

The final session is titled ‘Changing energy mix and implications for the shipping industry’. This session will be addressed by Laughs Holdings Ltd. Chairman W.K.H. Wegapitiya, GAC bunker fuels Ltd. Dubai Credit Manager Simon Millar and HIPG Senior Advisor to CEO Saliya Wickremasuriya. 

Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) Chairman Rear Admiral Rohana Perera and Hayleys Advantis Ltd. Director Ibrahim Saleem will attend as expert panellists. The session will be moderated by McLarens Group Chief Commercial Officer Mahesh Kurukulasuriya.

Please contact Prabath or Dheeshana on 011 2696 227 for registrations.