CILT conducts 25th P.B. Karandawala Memorial Lecture jointly with CMM

Family members garlanding P.B. Karandawala’s photo

Handing over the token of appreciation to the speaker

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Sri Lanka held its 25th P.B. Karandawala Memorial Lecture on 24 January at IESL Auditorium. The lecture was conducted jointly with Company of Master Mariners. Family members of late Karandawala were present at the talk.

The late P.B. Karandawala was widely regarded as a pioneer in developing the maritime sector in Sri Lanka. Chairperson Gayani de Alwis CMILT, in her welcome address, spoke about late PBK’s pioneering efforts and that he had the rare distinction of being the Chairman of three state transportation entities that focus on three different modes, The Ceylon Shipping Corporation, Air Ceylon and Ceylon Transport Board, during the 1970s. 

He established the National Shipping Line and structured around it several independent organisations to provide the support it needed in its nascent years, such as the Freight Bureau, the Ceylon Shipping Lines, the Port Services and the Colombo Dock Yard. He was known as a leading Economist from the Central Bank and later went onto serve the United Nations as a Shipping and Sectorial Economic Adviser to many developing countries.  

The title of the memorial lecture was “Manning Industry of Sri Lankan Seafarers and its impact to the country’s economy” which was delivered by Capt. Ajith Peiris who is both a FCILT and a CMM. He is a veteran in the Shipping industry and Chairman of Ceyline Group. He was instrumental in setting up CINEC maritime campus 30 years ago. Currently, CINEC is the only CILT education provider accredited to conduct CILT education programs in the country.

The speaker started on how the advancement of shipping has enabled the evolution of the industry and about the seafarer education in Sri Lanka. Quoting the manpower report of ICS and MCO of 2015, he stated that globally seafarer population was estimated at 1.545 million. Top five Seafarer supply countries are China, Philippines, Indonesia, Russian Federation and Ukraine. Sri Lanka has a huge opportunity to tap in to this global market and bring much higher foreign exchange earnings and stop the social problems in the country by preventing female domestic workers leaving to the Middle East. 

He urged the authorities to facilitate PPP opportunities to develop the industry and also support the industry players with facilities to increase the Seafarer supply to the global market. He further elaborated the financial and social impacts to the economy; which will enable the country to bring in valuable foreign exchange earnings and become a supplier to the global seafaring market.

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) is the leading international professional body for everyone who works within supply chain, logistics and transport. The institute holds unparalleled international recognition and works towards achieving its objective of promoting, encouraging and coordinating the study of the science and art of logistics and transport through its membership, events and educational qualifications. With a global membership of over 35,000 CILT is present in 36 countries across the globe. 

CILT provides a professional identity to those in the ever-expanding Logistics and Transport industry. It is a strong, active and a unified professional body that is able to speak with authority on strategic issues affecting businesses and people in the industry and support their careers. 

Students at the event 

Section of the audience