SLFFA to promote logistics excellence in making hub

• Joins CIMC to play a vital role as stakeholder 

From left: SLFFA Chairperson Tania Polonnowita Wettimuny, Sheffield Hallam University CILT-UK Professor Terrence Perera, Brandix Lanka CEO Ashroff Omar, Xcendant Technologies COO/ SLASSCOM Board Director Hariharan Pathmanathan and Expolanka Freight-EFL President/CEO Hanif Yusoof 

Sri Lanka Logistics and Freight Forwarders’ Association (SLFFA) sees potential to improve the country’s overall logistics environment to work towards establishing a centre of excellence in logistics in South Asia. Commenting on the Colombo International Maritime Conference (CIMC), Tania Polonnowita Wettimuny, the first female to head the association said that a maritime hub needs professional services of freight forwarders and logistics companies to service the demands of the clients. Sri Lanka has a mature industry, but now its members need to go beyond the local market and to develop as global partners with joint ventures and create companies of larger scale so that they could add value to the local economy. We feel that we should play a greater role in the maritime economy of Sri Lanka and we want to be a partner of it, she said.

The SLFFA will encourage its members to improve the service levels, standards as well as improve the HR capacities to service the demands of the trade. Hence, the association has set the target to develop towards greater excellence to go beyond freight forwarding and to facilitate its members to be full scale logistics providers. The organisation sees Sri Lanka’s potential, particularly in South Asia to be a transportation hub to carter to demands in Asia and other developing regions of the world. 

The SLFFA will join the CIMC with a focused session on logistics, supply chain management and deliberate on how to make Sri Lanka a hub for regional trade. 

Professor Terrence Perera, from CILT UK, along with Brandix Lanka CEO Ashroff Omar and Expolanka Holdings CEO Hanif Yusoof will be lead speakers. Diren Hallock will chair session with other expert panellists and leaders from the industry at the CIMC Logistics Forum. SLASCOM board member Hariharan Padmanaban, will also deliver a presentation on information technology solutions for logistics and shipping companies providing them a way forward with a leaner efficient solutions model to run their businesses. 

Chairman of the organising committee, Rohan Masakaorala said that the role of logistics is becoming an important competitive tool for countries that want to be globally competitive in trade. Although we are focusing on maritime development in this conference, the element of logistics providers is a key component in today’s supply chain. We are seeing a new enthusiasm from the logistics trade to move towards greater heights and we believe that SLFFA joining CIMC is yet another achievement that all in the transport sector wants to unite and take Sri Lanka’s aspirations forward and to promote the country as a global destination and a hub in South Asia. 

More information on CIMC could be found on www.cimc2015.com.