Sri Lanka to mark Maritime & Naval Week

The Government has declared the period between 21 and 27 September as the week of maritime and naval activities.

To begin the week yesterday, the President of the ‘Maritime & Naval Week’ program and the Senior Advisor for Ports and Aviation Rohan Masakorala presented a souvenir and badge to President Maithripala Sirisena at his official residence.  This is the first time Sri Lanka is holding such an event under this theme, the President’s Media Division said in a statement.

The Maritime & Naval Week will be held according to the advice and conditions of the International Maritime Organization. Issues relating to the policies of maritime and naval affairs and ocean laws as well as matters concerning investment opportunities are scheduled to be discussed during the week. Scholars, professionals and entrepreneurs in the port and maritime fields are due to participate in the program to build a close relationship with other international partners in port and maritime activities.

Various programs, including educational seminars, lectures and tours, will also be held in conjunction with this program.

The International Maritime Organization, the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping, has declared 24 September World Maritime Day. This year’s World Maritime Day theme is ‘Maritime education and training’.

Ports and Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga, Secretary to the Ministry L. P. Jayampathi, Additional Secretary and Acting Chairman of the Port Authority Kanthi Perera, Director General of Merchant and Shipping Ajith Seneviratne, advisor of this program Mohan Panditharathne and Chairman of the Sri Lanka Logistics and Freight Forwarders’ Association Tania Weththamuni were also present at the event.