Sri Lanka: SLPA to Host Three Day Ports Event

The second edition of Sri Lanka Ports, Trade and Logistics Conference Exhibition and Awards would be held at the Hilton Hotel, Colombo, from May 1 to 3, 2013.

Organised by Seatrade and hosted by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, the three day event would include a two-day conference sessions, an exhibition, a gala dinner and awards ceremony, complemented by a cricket afternoon, a hosted port visit, and networking opportunities.

The conference and exhibition would be inaugurated on May 2, with the opening address by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The Petroleum Industries Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Minister of Ports and Highways (Projects) Rohitha Abegunawardhane, Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama, Director General of Petroleum Resources Development Secretariat, Saliya Wickremasuriya and other senior officials representing ports, aviation and tourism would also be present. International speakers including top officials from Essar Ports, ADPC, Class NK, Colombo International Container Terminals, Colombo Dockyard PLC and other international leaders from the maritime and logistics industry, would also address the gathering.

The two-day conference sessions would focus on important themes from the maritime and logistics industry, including successfully creating state-of-the-art port and maritime facilities, financing and investing in major maritime and transport projects in Sri Lanka, Indian Ocean transport infrastructure projects, offshore and onshore energy development and production in Sri Lanka, protection against threats at sea, waterborne tourism and marina development and a workshop concerning successful free-zone development.

The Awards Ceremony would feature as part of the Sri Lanka Ports, Trade and Logistics Gala Dinner on Thursday, May 2, 2013, with Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa as Guest of Honour. International and domestic conference attendees are invited to attend this prestigious evening, honouring the most accomplished and dynamic maritime companies and executives in the country.

Award-winning SKY News Anchor and Presenter, Jeremy Thompson, is confirmed as moderator for the Keynote Session on May 2 and would also be Master of Ceremonies for the Awards Ceremony.

For the last day of the event (May 3), Sri Lanka Ports Authority has offered to host a two hour port tour, including breakfast for all participants. The tour consists of a visit to the existing harbour and then a look at the port expansion project, including the breakwaters.

Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman, Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama, informed the participants in a statement that the event would allow high level domestic and international executives to interact and build business relationships in the most dynamic economy in South Asia.

“Through access to Sri Lanka’s leading decision makers, discover the government’s strategic vision and gain unrivalled insight through the provision of accurate business intelligence that would help you access the vast commercial potential that the island has to offer,” he said.

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Press Release, April 24, 2013