WISTA under Diruni Chanmugam’s leadership to play key role in Sri Lanka’s ‘Maritime Hub’ aspirations

By Zahida Rizvi

WISTA President Diruni Chanmugam

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie J. Chung

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung recently declared that with solid governance and a more open market, Sri Lanka is positioned to become a significant maritime hub and the maritime industry stands to benefit from hundreds of millions of dollars in long-term investment.

“I have a view of the Port of Colombo and I can see the many ships coming from all over the world, as, I watch the port cranes hard at work generating revenue for the country and potential opportunities that further development can bring and this is an area where organisations like WISTA Sri Lanka can leverage its relationships with policymakers and companies already connected to the international markets that the President Ranil Wickremesinghe wants to tap into, including ours in the United States,” Ambassador Chung said as Chief Guest at the Women›s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) eighth Annual General Meeting recently at Cinnamon Grand Hotel.

She also shared her experiences in breaking glass ceilings and overcoming gender disparities inspiring the gathering of WISTA members. She said globally women representation in Shipping and Logistics is a mere 2% and urged females in the country, who are more than just over half of the population, to join forces in re-building the economy, advance good governance and further market reforms, and be a positive force in the labour market.

In her address WISTA new President Diruni Chanmugam said: “Maritime and Logistics Sector need to embrace innovation, digitisation, better cross border mobility, creating neutral platforms to collaborate and share experiences in addressing some of the challenges faced in the industry,” Chanmugam added.

She expressed confidence in leading WISTA Sri Lanka to be a strong force in the industry and outlined priorities for the year. Diruni stated that there now is a trend where more women are taking up career development initiatives focusing on higher studies in the industry which is a welcome change and it is her utmost intention to encourage more women to be equipped with leadership skills to prepare them for future leadership positions in their respective companies. 

The WISTA Personality of the Year award, given to Women in Management (WIM) Founder and CEO Sulochana Segera in recognition of significant contributions made by her to raise the standards and advancing gender equity in Sri Lanka and the region.

WISTA Sri Lanka newly elected board comprises President Diruni Chanmugam, Vice President Chamila Bandara, Secretary Kalani Dassanayake, Assistant Secretary Sharmala Fernando, Treasurer Shiyamalee Karunanayake and Assistant Treasurer Ruwini Perera.

The newly elected Executive Committee for the year 2022/23 consists of SALOTA International Director Nilu Mediwake Wickremasinghe, World Link Shipping Marketing Director Swabha Wickramasinghe, McLarens Shipping Consultant Shipping and HR Services Anoma V. Ranasinghe, GAC Shipping PandI Division Assistant General Manager Debbie Jones, Regency Teas General Manager Operations Amali Mudunkotuwa, Prudential Shipping Lines NVOCC General Manager Surangi Gunasekera, Shipping and Cargo Logistics Assistant General Manager Marketing Enoka Wickremasinghe, GAC Shipping Assistant General Manager – HR Anuka Pathirana, Maersk Lanka LCL Execution Lead Therani Kalyanapriye, South Asia Gateway Terminals Senior Manager Commercial and Marketing Udara Cumaratunga, SALOTA International Assistant General Manager Business Development Madhu Welikala, Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chief Law Officer Aparna Thilakaratne, Hayley’s Energy Services Deputy General Manager Aruni Wijepala, GAC Shipping Manager Commercial Anjalika Perera, GFS Lanka Assistant Manager Customer Service Dilky Bartholomeusz and Penguin Shipping Director Deepika Wijesuriya.

South Asia Gateway Terminals continues to power WISTA Sri Lanka as the Corporate Partner, and Hayley›s Advantis Ltd. served as the Official AGM Sponsor for the occasion.