SLANA holds its 5th AGM

The Sri Lanka Association of NVOCC Agents (SLANA) which was formed in May 2016 to promote and protect the interests of licensed ‘Non-Vessel Operating Container Carrier (NVOCC) Agents’ in Sri Lanka, held its fifth Annual General Meeting on Friday 12 November at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo. 

Initially established with 14 companies, SLANA’s membership has now grown to 46 leading NVOCC agents in Sri Lanka.

The SLANA Executive Committee for the 2021/2022 period consists of five office bearers and six members. The newly-appointed office bearers are Harsha De Silva, Managing Director, McLarens Logistics Ltd. as Chairman, Capt. A.V Rajendra, Managing Director, Seatrade Agencies Ltd. as Immediate Past Chairman, Taarik Booso, Managing Director, Goodrich Lanka Ltd. as Vice Chairman, Surangi Gunasekera, General Manager – NVOCC, Prudential Shipping Lines Ltd. as Secretary and Ana Senanayake, Director, Perma Shipping Lanka Ltd. as Treasurer. 

The Executive Committee members consist of Swabha Wickremasinghe, Director, Worldlink Shipping Colombo Ltd., Krishantha Alwis, Chief Operating Officer, Cargoserve Shipping Ltd., Kalinga Seneviratne, Chief Operating Officer, Delshipping & Logistics Ltd., Gisantha De Silva, Director, Interocean Containers Ltd., Raj Rasiah, Managing Director, Smart Marine Lanka Ltd. and Gihan Dias, Deputy General Manager, Setmil United Cargo Ltd. 

SLANA members represent Principals known as ‘Non-Vessel Operating Container Carriers’ who operate fleets of marine containers which include 20ft and 40ft standard dry containers, refrigerated containers, ISO tank containers and dry special containers such as flat racks and open tops.

The container shipping Principals represented by the SLANA membership are mostly regional carriers who operate shipping services in the Indian Sub-Continent including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Maldives also the Middle East Gulf Ports and Far East Ports including base Ports in China.

The ISO tank container Principals represented by SLANA members are involved in transporting chemical and food grade bulk liquids and industrial gasses in specially built stainless steel tank containers. These ISO tank operating principals have a worldwide port coverage. All NVOCC Principals issue their own liner B/Ls and operate their fleets of containers by booking space on feeder container vessels and also on main line vessels.

SLANA also organises seminars and workshops to educate the staff of its member companies and has an active CSR program. Moreover, SLANA has joined hands in collaboration with the Institute of Chartered Ship Brokers – Sri Lanka Branch in the year 2021 to give an opportunity to NVOCC Agents to take part in the annual ICS Customer Service Survey and thereby stand a chance to win the ICS-SLANA Awards in the Import and Export category. These awards help to improve industry service levels and give due recognition to SLANA and its members who play a vital role in the sector of Non-Vessel Operating Container Carriers, active in Sri Lanka.

In a short span of four years, SLANA has achieved recognition in the Sri Lankan shipping and logistics industry and is involved in regular meetings with the Ministry of Ports and Shipping, Director General of Merchant Shipping, Sri Lanka Customs and Sri Lanka Ports Authority to formulate policies, streamline procedures, discuss newly-implemented guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures keeping the interests of NVOCC Principals and Agents in the forefront. SLANA also works closely with other shipping and logistics associations and the import and export trade organisations to address all current issues.