(PRESS RELEASE) - Dr.ParakramaDissanayake assumed duties as the Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) on the 01st of June 2017. The appointment was made by the Minister of Ports and Shipping – MahindaSamarasinghe, fulfilling a long awaited requirement of SLPA to have a professionally qualified personality as the institution’s Chairman.
Vice Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), Mr.P.G.Dasanayake, the Managing Director of SLPA – Mr.H.D.A.S.Premachandra, the Executive Director of SLPA Mr.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.ParakramaDissanayake 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 U.K. Before his present appointment, as the Chairman of SLPA, Dr.Dissanayake served as Chairman/CEO of Aitken Spence Maritime, Logistics & Cargo and Director – Aitken Spence PLC.
Expressing views following assumption of duties as the new Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), Dr.Parakrama Dissanayake thanked the Hon.Minister of Ports and Shipping -MahindaSamarasinghe for the confidence placed in appointing him as Chairman SLPA. “ I must say that the Honourable 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 US Dollars 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 Honourable 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) U.K., is the first Sri Lankan to have obtained both the highest Chartered Qualifications in Shipping (FICS/Chartered Shipbrokers) U.K., and Transport & 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.