Young Professionals of CASA: Strengthening the shipping future

The young professionals of the local shipping industry launched an initiative to develop the future human resource base of the shipping and logistics sector, in line with the Government of Sri Lanka’s ambitious hub concept.

Young shipping industry professionals who are members of the Ceylon Association of Ships’ Agents (CASA), launched a professional association with the auspices of CASA, named the Young Professionals of CASA on 30 May 2013. The aim is to develop talent, skills and experiences of the youth cohort of CASA, to meet the country’s future human resource needs in the rapidly evolving field of shipping and logistics.

The launch was held at the Kingsbury in Colombo under the patronage of Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Project Minister for Ports and Highways in Sri Lanka. The occasion was graced by a large number of leading personalities in the industry, such as Adm. Jayanath Colombage, Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy, Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama, Chairman of SLPA, Jagath Wijeweera, Director General of Customs, Ajith Seneviratna, Director General of Merchant Shipping and other dignitaries from the relevant fields relating to shipping and included the youth of 130 CASA member companies

The steering committee of the newly established Young Professionals of CASA consists of Mevan Peiris, Chairman from the Ceyline Group, Navin Perera, Vice Chairman from GAC Shipping, Kuvini Gamage, Secretary from McLarens Shipping, Shalinie De Silva, Assistant Secretary from McLarens Shipping, Hasitha Dissanayake, Treasurer from CMA CGM and Duminda Silva, Assistant Treasurer from Maersk. The other highly skilled members of steering committee are Jehan Rodrigo from Prudential, Mahen Panagoda from Aitken Spence, Nuwan Shanaka from Asha Agencies and Natarsha Fernando from Ceyline.

Chairman of the Young Professionals of CASA Mevan Peiris stated that the new formation within CASA would provide a unique and dedicated platform to identify and develop skills and experience needs of the next generation of Sri Lankan shipping professionals. “Our membership will be made up of persons below the age of 35 because we have identified the need for a focused thrust to meet development and growth needs of the younger generation. Through the Young Professionals of CASA, we hope to develop both professional and leadership skills that the local shipping industry will need as our economy expands under the Government’s plans to develop the country into a shipping hub,” explained Peiris.

CASA’s proposed youth forum of CASA has already received strong interest with 102 registrations of young people from different shipping companies in Sri Lanka. In addition to its goals of creating a learning and development culture among the youth, the Young Professionals of CASA will also take on corporate social responsibility projects on behalf of CASA.