‘Better educated staff make better decisions’: Anoma Ranasinghe

Following is the address by Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (UK) Sri Lanka Branch Chairperson Anoma Ranasinghe at the ICS (UK) Sri Lanka Branch awards ceremony, which was held at the Cinnamon Lakeside recently

Minster of Ports and Shipping Arjuna Ranathunga, Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Indrajith Coomaraswamy, ICS International President Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake, ICS International Chairman Michael Taliotis, ICS Sri Lanka branch Vice Chairman Manjula Agalawatte, ICS fellow members and members, distinguished invitees, ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to welcome you all this evening to the flagship event of the Sri Lanka branch; of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers – UK – for this 23rd annual awards ceremony which is an important event in the shipping almanac of the local maritime industry.

I feel very much honoured to have the presence of the Minister of Ports and Shipping Arjuna Ranathunga as our chief guest and also the presence of the Governor of Central Bank Dr. Indrajith Coomaraswamy despite their busy schedules. Further, having the International President Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake and International Chairman Michael Taliotis of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers UK, with us today at this awards ceremony is certainly a rare feature.

Minister Ranathunga, may I mention that from the time you assumed command as the Minister of Ports and Shipping, the consistency you have shown in attending our annual awards ceremonies despite your busy schedules, shows your commitment to the shipping industry and to education. Thank you sir; for very graciously accepting our invitation for the award ceremony. We are indeed honoured to have you, as our chief guest this evening. 

Ladies and gentlemen, the senior most member of our branch Karu Jayasuriya – speaker of the parliament has sent his best wishes for a successful award ceremony as he is unable to attend this evening due to a prior commitment. He has been a great source of strength to us and his support to the branch has been invaluable.

It is the first time we have Dr. Indrajith Coomaraswamy, Governor of the Central Bank, at an ICS awards ceremony; a sportsman of repute from his school days, who has built up a strong international reputation as a gentlemen and visionary. In spite of having his hands full in putting things in order at the Central Bank and our economy on track, we appreciate Dr. Coomaraswamyfinding time for us and we look forward to hearing some wise words and advice to us in your speech in a few minutes.

Year 2017 bears very special significance to the Sri Lanka branch – epitomising 30 years of its existence and unparalleled service to the local maritime industry in grooming shipping professionals, the presence of the International President and the Chairman of ICS UK , at this award ceremony is a hall mark of the importance of this occasion.

ICS Sri Lanka branch takes a great pride to mention that a founder member and a past chairman of our branch Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake was elected as the first Non-British person to adorn the prestigious office of the International President of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (UK). This; indeed, is a very rare feature. It is also the first occasion such honour was bestowed upon amember from the Asian region.

As we all are aware; today, the shipping industry is under serious pressure, to raise its standards and to improve performance, and is currently planning on several measures to cope with the challenges it faces. Last year, shipping industry encountered many challenges and surprises. Some of it; was expected some not. Almost all major container shipping lines have resorted to slow steaming of their vessels with some cancellation of port calls and voyages. Many large ships have been laid up with some as young as six years being scrapped. Further shipping lines have embarked on cutting down their investments, to reduce costs by grouping themselves in alliances, consortiums, mega mergers with rivals, and acquisitions in order to beat the down-turn and increase utilisation of their ships and manage their capacity.

We heard the collapse of the seventh largest container shipping line Hanjin, followed last week by Rickmers. Japan’s top three shipping lines announced they will merge their container shipping operations ……. so many changes going on in the maritime industry, so the need for new and better skills for an age of smart shipping is apt. 

In a space of 12 months there were five major mergers or acquisitions in top 20 container lines and a bankruptcy.

The question is what will happen next?

Not all news is bad; and we do have good news! As per the latest reports, it is predicted that the weak global shipping market is expected to recover gradually in 2017, as the freight rates have started to move upwards with the carriers realising that over-capacity and cut-throat competition is not sustainable. 

Are we seeing light at the end of the tunnel?

If so, in this rapidly revolving international maritime industry, Sri Lanka should take the advantage of being an island nation, strategically located in the Indian Ocean; all should strive to raise its stature to come to terms with the expectations of the global industry and exploit the economic advantages on offer. 

Minister, we understand that the deep draft container terminal, in the port of Colombo, is nearing its capacity, with the arrival of mega carriers. JCT & SAGT have draft limitations and are only capable of handling vessels less than 14.25mtr draft. Shipping lines do not like to experience berthing delays; and if so, they would be looking at alternative ports in the region to berth their ships.

Delay; in the construction and operation of the east container terminal would definitely loose the hopes of players in the shipping trade. Therefore it is of utmost importance that this east container terminal project is brought on stream as early as possible, if Sri Lanka is really serious about maintaining its transhipment hub status and expanding to truly be the regional maritime hub.

We thank you sir, for the inclusion of the ICS Sri Lanka branch in the advisory council of ports and shipping and maritime affairs, and look forward in working under your astute leadership in the future as well. 

The services of professionals, who could provide the necessary impetus to successfully meet the challenges of the day and also to sustain the consistency with which local industry could progress with confidence, are indispensable. It is in this sphere that ‘ICS’ Sri Lanka branch plays a major role in grooming and upgrading the professional men/women of our nation, through various educational and training programs we offer; one of the ways to achieve this improvement is to ensure that staff are educated and trained to the highest standards possible. I firmly believe that a better educated staff does, in the main, make better decisions.

The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers offers students a wide range of subjects in their shipping education. Once qualified, there is the opportunity to become members of this most prestigious organisation for shipping professionals worldwide.

I take it as my duty to thank all those, present and past ex-co members who worked tirelessly to make ICS Sri Lanka branch what it is today, being considered as the most vibrant ICS overseas branch. I have no doubt that ICS Sri Lanka will live many more years and scale heights until it reaches the pinnacle ; to foster shipping education in Sri Lankaand to nurture budding shipping professionals our motherland desperately needs. 

Our branch would not have been able to achieve this success; if not for the eminent panel of lecturers, comprising mostly of our own members, where appropriate offers coaching, revision classes and mock examinations to meet the increasing specialised requirements of the students and at the same time ensure those who gain our professional shipping qualifications understand the ‘business of shipping’ in a broader sense. My heartfelt gratitude goes to all of you; if not for your unstinted support, the role of the branch as an education provider would have been a very difficult task. 

Finally, my heartiest congratulations to all you proud students and award recipients graduating with the institute of Chartered Shipbrokers qualifications today, it may seem like a long and arduous road, filled with hours of study and a high degree of personal commitment to learning and knowledge. The reality is that completing the industry’s professional qualifications for shore-based maritime roles marks the beginning of a different kind of journey, full of potential for a rewarding career in the international shipping and ports sectors. Best wishes for success in your future endeavours bearing in mind to live up to the institute motto ‘our word our bond’, which is indeed a hallmark of professionalism in international trade. 

I conclude my speech with a quote from Abdul Khalam, a former president of India who passed away in 2015 – a great leader whom I really admire and respect.

“Learning gives creativity,

Creativity leads to thinking,

Thinking provides knowledge,

Knowledge makes you great.”

Thank you.