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Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake assuming duties as the Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) while SLPA Vice Chairman P.G. Dasanayake, SLPA Managing Director H.D.A.S. Premachandra, SLPA Executive Director H.A. Wimalasooriya and SLPA Director (Logistics) Upali De Zoysa look on
Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake assumed duties as the Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) on 1 June. The appointment was made by Minister of Ports and Shipping Mahinda Samarasinghe, fulfilling a long awaited requirement of SLPA to have a professionally qualified personality as the institution’s Chairman.
Vice Chairman P.G. Dasanayake, Managing Director H.D.A.S. Premachandra, Executive Director H.A. Wimalasooriya, executive staff members of the higher management of SLPA and all heads of divisions of SLPA were also present at the occasion.
Dr. Dissanayake has also been a Past Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority from 2001-2004 and also a Past Chairman of state owned Jaya Container Terminals Ltd., and Sri Lanka Port Management Consultancy Services Ltd; SLPA. Dr. Dissanayake who serves on the UN/UNCTAD Panel as an expert on Ports and Shipping is a Past Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, Past Chairman of the Charted Institute of Logistics and Transport (Sri Lanka Branch) and a Past Chairman of the Central Advisory Council of Sri Lanka Transport Board.
He is a member of the Faculty Industry Consultative Board of the University of Moratuwa, and currently serves as Chairman of Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Steering Committee on Ports, Shipping, Aviation and Logistics. He was recently elected as the First Non British International President of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers UK. Before his present appointment, as the Chairman of SLPA, Dr. Dissanayake served as Chairman/CEO of Aitken Spence Maritime, Logistics and Cargo and Director – Aitken Spence PLC.
Expressing views following assumption of duties as the new Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Dr. Dissanayake thanked Mahinda Samarasinghe for the confidence placed in appointing him as Chairman SLPA. “I must say that the minister has a tremendous vision for the maritime sector of Sri Lanka and to bring the port sector to the glorious past,” he said.
Dr. Dissanayake stated that the challenges ahead being a part of the global shipping chain should be well identified by all engaged in the Sri Lankan maritime sector. “Earlier we had four shipping alliances and now three alliances; which means there is concentration amongst shipping lines. The shipping lines have got enormous power over the selection of ports. Last year the top 20 container shipping lines lost about $ 15 billion pointing to the enormity of the global challenges we are faced with. And more importantly, the East-West trade route where the Port of Colombo is situated, we should understand that within the next two years, the ships plying will have 90% of Ultra Large Container vessels. Under the new leadership, Sri Lanka Ports Authority would like to make things happen and with the advice of the Minister, we hope we can take SLPA to a different height,” Dr. Dissanayake insisted.
Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake who is a top professional and maritime economist and renowned personality in the global maritime sector, has obtained his MBA/PhD and qualified as a Chartered Marketer (FCIM) UK, is the first Sri Lankan to have obtained both the highest Chartered Qualifications in Shipping (FICS/Chartered Shipbrokers) UK, and Transport and Logistics (Chartered Fellow Logistics and Transport) UK. He is also the only individual to chair both the highest professional bodies in the Maritime and Transport Logistics sectors in Sri Lanka. He has authored numerous articles and presented papers on Shipping, Ports and Marketing related matters. Dr. Dissanayake who was conferred with the Asian Brand Leadership award by CMO Asia is a University of Oxford Business Alumni, Graduate of Harvard Business School (EEP) on ‘Global Economy’ and a Fellow of NORAD and JICA.
CASA welcomes new SLPA Chairman; lists priorities
Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents (CASA) in a statement said it welcomes the appointment of top shipping professional Dr.Parakrama Dissanayake as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. CASA highly appreciates the decision taken by the Minister of Ports and Shipping Mahinda Samarasinghe in appointing an industry professional to this all-important position.
Dr. Dissanayake who was a former Vice Chairman of CASA and now serves on the Advisory Council, has had an illustrious career in the shipping industry having started his career at the Ceylon Shipping Corporation and in the private sector.
Dr.Dissanayake, during his earlier tenure as the Chairman of SLPA between 2001 and 20014, was instrumental in bringing in numerous reforms in the Port which propelled the Government-owned Jaye Container Terminal (JCT) to improve productivity and efficiency to compete with International Container Terminals.
At a time when the Sri Lanka Ports Authority is facing several challenges such as the privatisation of the MRMR Port in Hambantota, construction of the East Container Terminal and the development of the Galle and Trincomalee Ports, the appointment of Dr.Dissanayake as SLPA Chairman is most welcome in addressing the issues that will arise from time to time.
CASA as the voice of the Shipping Industry believes that the new Chairman will be able give a new direction to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and ensure that the ports in Sri Lanka will be able to maintain a competitive advantage and develop the Port of Colombo as a maritime hub, which will benefit the maritime industry as well as bring in the much-needed foreign exchange to the country.
CASA congratulates Dr. Dissanayake on his appointment and pledged to extend its fullest support.
