Advance facilities to shipping industry from SLPA

The Sri Lanka Shippers’ Council (SLSC), the apex body representing the voice of the Sri Lankan shippers, organised an awareness seminar on extension of the NAVIS’ system, together with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and Bank of Ceylon at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce last week.

The SLPA is moving forward with its automation program and is creating awareness amongst the trading community of their new operating system. Speaking at the well-attended industry gathering, SLPA Chairman Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama explained the current developments and the future plans of the port.

His team explained how the new extension of the NAVIS’ system would benefit the import and export trade community. The system will allow all port users in stages to access this system for various facilities after registration with the SLPA. They will be able to make payments through Internet banking initially through Bank of Ceylon for port charges on exports, imports and subsequently for other port facilities. The Port Chairman explained that this would benefit all the clients who work with the port to reduce paper work and expedite the process when doing business with the port.





SLSC Vice Chairman Dinesh De Silva speaking at the seminar explained the importance of embracing these facilities and urged the port users to use the facilities in order move ahead as an industry, as a nation to be competitive among the region. He further said that automation is a journey to continue improvement and that SLSC is committed to take this journey forward for the betterment of the port users and the industry.

The proposed system has been tested and a pilot project will be done soon with selected port users from the industry before going on line. The new system is expected to be introduced by March 2012. SLSC will be committed to support this initiative by SLPA and drive this forward to take the industry to the next level.