Archives

By Elmo Rodrigopulle

Sri Lanka is destined to play an increasingly important role in regional and international trade. With increasing globalisation and the stabilisation of the WTO, an island nation like Sri Lanka has a great future potential, Minister of Shipping, Ports and Fisheries, Mahinda Rajapakse said.

"My question is, why cannot we be another Panama as far as shipping is concerned?

This is the reason why I have initiated action to build a Port in Hambantota," he said at a function to celebrate the winning of Lloyds List Award by the Mercantile Marine Management, a subsidiary of the Mercantile Shipping Company. The award was presented for 'excellence in commitment to training'.

Minister Rajapakse accepted the position that Sri Lanka would not be able to exploit that potential - however good our infrastructure in Ports and so on, unless we have trained, efficient and effective human resources. To achieve this objective, he said, "I intend to reorganise and upgrade the training courses at our own Mahapola Training Institute in collaboration with Sagara University, I originated under the Ministry of Fisheries. I am confident that much can be achieved if all training institutes make a coordinated effort in the interest of the nation."

Minister Rajapakse congratulated the Mercantile Shipping Company and its operational arm - Mercantile Marine Management, on winning the Lloyds List Award.

For the first time since Lloyds List Award scheme was inaugurated, a Sri Lankan shipping company has been awarded the first prize for excellence in commitment to training', he said calling it `a sterling performance' and `a great honour to Sri Lanka'.

The competition was open to the entire global shipping world. Yet in the midst of giants Mercantile Shipping was able to secure first place. I consider that a great achievement and one that the entire nation should be justly proud of', he said.

"This award is for excellence in human resource development - training - which is not only a challenging field of endeavour but one of vital importance to a country such as ours'. 'Because in human resource development you are building people - giving them new skills, new attitudes, and releasing their creative energies for new initiatives on their own," he said.

This is a critical need for Sri Lanka since we have now in a globalised world to compete as Mercantile Shipping had done against the world. You have filled a very important gap in our shipping industry. You produce hundreds of trained seafarers both for our shipping fleets and for the rest of the world. And you have shown by this award that even in this demanding field of human resource development you are among the best in the world'.

The Minister expressed interest in the expansion and development of the shipping industry in Sri Lanka. 'As an island nation located on the edge of the Indian sub-continent and strategically placed on the international sea routes,' he said.

The Minister concluded his speech by saying to the Directors and staff of Mercantile Shipping, 'You are a shining example to the private sector of this country by your long, active and high-quality contribution to the development of this country's human resources. He wished that the company and its training institute in Galle, 'will grow from strength to strength to serve the country and the industry'.

Bradman Weerakoon, former Chairman of Mercantile Shipping and Thomas Kriwat, Director, referred to the growth and development of the company over a period of 20 years.

Mr. Weerakoon said that Mercantile Shipping was one of the best examples of joint venture endeavour where German and Sri Lankan capital and technical skills came together in a very productive partnership. 'The happy combination of friendliness, courtesy and inventiveness - the Sri Lankan contribution, along with the hard work and discipline of the German tradition was hard to beat, as the achievement of the training school in Galle showed.'

Mr. Kriwat said that the training imparted at the Training Institute which had an intake of 90 young men per year was 'of very high quality and that sea farers produced by the institute were serving with great acceptance on ships all over the world.' Nimal Jayewardene, Acting Chairman, thanked the Manager and the other invitees representing the shipping industry for their presence.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager