CILT anchors Road Show at Hambantota International Port Group

Participants from HIPG with the CILT team at the Road Show

Council member Chaminda Perera and CILT Chairperson Gayani de Alwis addressing the gathering

CILT team at the HIPG viewing deck, view of the Hambantota Port at the background

CILT Team with HIPS CEO and HIPG GM

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Sri Lanka held its first road show for the year at the Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) head office on 25 January. CILT Sri Lanka Chairperson Gayani de Alwis CMILT, Council members H.A. Premarathna FCILT, Dr. Priyangani Jayasundara CMILT, Chaminda Perera CMILT and CILT Secretary General Vasantha Dias attended the event. 

The membership drive was organised at the request of General Manager Human Resources Jeevan Premasara and HIPG Senior Manager Commercial and Marketing Chandula Rambukwella coordinated the arrangements for the road show.

CILT Sri Lanka Chairperson, in her welcome address, explained the history of CILT and mentioned that CILT is the only chartered professional body in the country for professionals engaged in transport, logistics and supply chain, and its main aim is to promote continuing professional education in the sector to uplift the skills and competencies of transport and logistics professionals in diverse backgrounds and create value to the economy. 

The Chairperson, during her address, further stressed that the CILT’s role is both passenger and goods transport in all modes of transport, land transport, maritime, and aviation, and emphasised that HIPG plays a vital role to ensure the efficient and reliable movement of goods and passengers. The Chairperson invited all HIPG and Hambantota International Port Services (HIPS) professionals to come forward and work together with CILT SL to develop the trade. Chaminda Perera CMILT explained about the membership criteria and the procedures to the participants.

Sixty-five employees from HIPG took part in the road show to become CILT members. It was interesting to note young WiLAT member Shakkya Perera, who is currently working as a Procurement Executive at HIPG, sharing her experience with WiLAT and how the exposure with CILT and WiLAT helped her in her career journey. At the request of CILT, HIPG also showed their keenness to set up the southern chapter for CILT. 

It was a productive day for both CILT and HIPG, which paved the way for a new beginning to work together on initiatives that are of mutual benefit.  The CILT team also was taken on a tour around the Hambantota port and the team thanked HIPG for their great hospitality.  The HIPG is a public-private partnership between the Government of Sri Lanka and China Merchants Port Holdings, a world-renowned port operator with a significant presence in all aspects of the shipping industry. HIPG is the single largest port in Sri Lanka located 10 nautical miles from the global trade route. It is a subsidiary company of HIPS, which is a joint venture between HIPG and the Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA). 

The Joint Venture Company is responsible for facilitating safety within the port. HIPG, HIPS and SLPA work together to ensure the efficient and reliable movement of goods and passengers integrating environmental, social and economic sustainability initiatives into all areas of port operations. HIPG invested in essential equipment for the Port of Hambantota which enhanced operational capabilities to another level by attracting internal cargo volumes via Hambantota. 

Further implementation of new customer services levels, Terminal operating systems (BTOS) and standard operating procedures are some of the reasons that enabled to double the RORO cargo volumes and handled 300 vessels in 2018. HIPG was also able to increase RORO cargo volume by 159% compared to 2017. Apart from core business as RORO, HIPG already commenced break bulk cargo operations extending the handling capacity of the port to another level. 

Further, hot layups also facilitated at berth for various reasons such as ship repairs along with many other different services required from Hambantota (Southern area) itself, which benefit the local community. HIPG is planning to commence Bunkering Operations during mid-year of 2019, which will result in further development of business operations at Port of Hambantota.

CILT is a 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. CILT is celebrating its centenary year this year and has a global membership of over 34,000 in 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.