CILT aims to attract accomplished logisticians from armed forces

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Sri Lanka (CILTSL) held its 28th Annual General Meeting recently.

At this event, CILTSL which is part of CILT International which has 33,000 members in over 30 countries, Romesh David was elected as the Chairman together with Niral Kadawatharatchie while Mrs. Gayani De Alwis and Mrs. Namalie Siyambalapitiya were elected as Vice-Chairpersons.

Prof. Amal S. Kumarage, in his review of the past year stated that the Institute has made great strides in building a consensual leadership underpinning its commitment to team work and building the next generation of leaders.

Noting that most of the sub committees have surpassed expectations in their performance, he also pointed out the progress the Institute is making in administrative reforms together with the handling of the CILTSL Secretariat by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. The monthly evening seminars have been extremely successful covering many topics across the sector including seaport development, airport and aviation development, highways and railway developments, import and export issues. This has now become a regular event in the transport and logistics calendar in Colombo.

Prof. Kumarage also noted with satisfaction that the total membership of CILT SL during the past two years grew more than 200% mostly by the inclusion of young graduates in transport and logistics management and related fields. In a move to give more prominence to younger members, the CILT Council has launched the Young Professionals Chapter of CILT SL last year.

The new CILT SL Chairman Mr. Romesh David emphasized that CILT would focus on expanding membership further in all categories. Most importantly, to bring the large number of highly accomplished logisticians in our country’s Armed Forces within the fold of CILT.

He declared CILT will focus on education and professional development. The pathway to professional development in transportation and logistics provided by CILT has entry points at varying stages, ranging from post-secondary school through to post graduate levels and/or significant industry experience and includes every level in between the international diploma and the international advanced diploma, all of which carry internationally recognized professional certification.

The Chairman affirmed the launch and re-starting of two annual initiatives in the years ahead. The annual transport exhibition which was organized and co-ordinated by a large number of organizations in the public and private sectors and by CILT will be re-launched this year. This provides a single platform for entities to come together for an exhibition conducted around a different theme annually. Moreover he stated CILT - Sri Lanka, under the leadership of Prof. Kumarage and with the valuable input of the CILT Secretariat at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, made a successful bid in 2011 for Sri Lanka to host CILT international’s International Convention in Colombo in 2013.

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) is the leading global professional body associated with the logistics and transport industry.  The principal objective of the institute is to promote and encourage the art and science of logistics and transport.  With a global membership of over 33,000 members working in over 100 countries, CILT provides a professional identity to those in the ever expanding logistics and transport sector. It is a strong, active, unified professional association that is able to speak with authority on strategic issues affecting businesses and people in the industry and support their careers.