High powered delegation from CASA visits Hambantota Port

CASA Executive Committe Members with HIPG Officials 

The Executive Committee of Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents (CASA) toured the Hambantota International Port (HIP) last week. The visit was to strengthen relations between CASA and HIP, foster collaboration, and explore future opportunities the port held for Sri Lanka’s shipping and logistics sector.

The high powered delegation included CASA Chairman Shano Sabar, Vice Chairman Janesh Ratnadasa, Treasurer Mushin Kitchilan, Secretary General Ralph Anandappa, Ex-Co Member Nimal Chandrasiri, Committee Chairperson – Container Operations Lohitha Hettiarachchi, Committee Chairperson – Container Operations Sumedha Perera , Committee Chairperson – PRP Shane De Alwis, Committee Chairperson – Finance and Tariff Priyanga Wijeweera, Vice Chairman – Container Operations Nirmal Dissanayake  and Treasurer YoungShip Sri Lanka and Vice Chairman for Membership Activities Sunera Wijesekara .

The CASA Executive Committee was met by the management team of Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) and Hambantota International Port Services (HIPS), headed by HIPG CEO Johnson Liu, and of HIPS CEO Capt. Ravi Jayawickreme. A presentation outlining the port’s current progress, industrial park activities, refinery project in collaboration with Sinopec and anticipated business growth was made to the visiting delegates by Bindu Ranasinghe, Commercial and Marketing Deputy General Manager of HIPG.  

Speaking at the meeting, HIPG CEO Johnson Liu stressed on the importance of establishing proper policies in the shipping sector so that Sri Lanka as a whole could attract new business into the country.  He also pointed out how HIP’s container services could be complementary to the Colombo Port in terms of retaining volumes in the country, especially given the new container volumes generated due to the Red Sea calamity.

The Chairman of CASA expressed his appreciation over the port’s developments, including the commencement of container services.  He also commended the port management for their projections for the port and steps put in place to achieve a 20% year-on-year growth in the next five years.