CILT Sri Lanka delegation attends the Centenary International Convention in Manchester

CILT SRI LANKA Country Delegation meeting in session 

CILT Country Chairpersons with IVPs and Trustees

CILT Sri Lanka delegation 

The annual International Convention of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), which is a much-awaited global gathering of logistics and transport professionals in the CILT international calendar, was held from 16-18 June at the Midlands Hotel, in Manchester, UK. CILT commemorated their Centenary year, in this year’s convention.  

The theme of the convention was “A New Institute for a New Era”. This year’s international convention had more than 250 participants from 30 countries and an eleven-member delegation from Sri Lanka participated at the convention. Representing the Sri Lankan delegation were CILT Sri Lanka Chairperson Gayani De Alwis, CMILT; WiLAT Sri Lanka Chairperson Gayathri Karunanayake, CMILT; International Vice President Romesh David, FCILT; Niral Kadawatharachchi, FCILT; Secretary Chaminda Perera, CMILT; CILT Past Chairman Saliya Senanayake, FCILT; WiLAT Sri Lanka Vice Chairperson Niroza Gazzali, MILT; Council member Upali de Zoysa, CMILT; Coats Head of Supply Chain Asitha Costa, CMILT; CWT Globelink GM Sanjeewa Weerasinghe, CMILT; and EFL Director Sammy Akbar, CMILT.

This year both Young Professionals (YP) and Women in Logistics and Transport (WiLAT) Forum conventions were spaced out in the plenary session, in order for delegates to attend both events on the first day. YPF Advisor and CILT Secretary Chaminda Perera, CMILT shared an update on YPF Sri Lanka in the absence of YPF Sri Lanka Chair. The three-day convention had a host of guest international speakers, workshops, interactive sessions, technical visits, WiLAT Convention, YPF Convention, and opportunities to network and gain knowledge in shaping the future of the institute and the industry.  

The main focus of the second day of the convention was to share best practices of countries, where case studies on membership, education, and policy advocacy were presented to take the Institute to a new era.  At this plenary session, Sri Lanka’s membership success story was presented by CILT Sri Lanka Chairperson Gayani de Alwis, CMILT titled, “How to really grow membership”. The convention delegates were inspired by the Sri Lankan success story wherein the strategy adopted enabled a creditable 40% growth in membership. 

The highlight of the second day of the convention were the technical visit, where the delegates were given the choice to visit Amazon, DHL, Museum of Transport, XPO sites in the latter part of the day. The key session of day three was on the topic “Global solutions to global challenges” by Prof Richard Wilding, and the convention successfully concluded after a few wrap up sessions and a closing ceremony. The Centenary Convention ended with the CILT Presidents Dinner on 18 June at the Midlands Hotel, attended by a large gathering. The next CILT Annual International Convention will be held from 16-18 October 2020 in Perth Australia.

CILT is a leading global professional body associated with the logistics and transport industry.  Established in UK in 1919 and having received the Royal Charter in 1926, the Institute has an exciting history but is always adapting to stay consistent with current logistics and transport issues. 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 34,000 from 35 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 a unified professional association that is able to speak with authority on strategic issues affecting businesses and people in the industry and support their careers. 

For more details on CILT, visit their web page - http://www.ciltsl.com