SAGT awarded ‘Best Port/ Terminal in Indian Sub-Continent Region’ for second consecutive year

From left: SLPA Chief Manager (Communication and Public Relations) Nalin Aponso, SLPA Chief Manager (Marketing & Business Development) Upul Jayatissa, SAGT Commercial & Marketing Manager Dhashma Karunaratne , SAGT General Manager (Operations) Upul Jinadasa and SAGT Chief Executive Officer Romesh David

South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT), the first public-private partnership container terminal in Sri Lanka, has yet again featured the Port of Colombo prominently on the world maritime stage. 

SAGT was awarded the ‘Best Terminal in the Indian Sub-Continent Region’ for the second consecutive year by the Singapore-based Global Ports Forum at a gala awards dinner at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Dubai.  The Chief Guest of this global event was United Arab Emirates Assistant Foreign Minister (Economics & Trade) Mohammed Sharaf. 

SAGT General Manager (Operations) Upul Jinadasa, receiving the award from UAE Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation for Economic and Trade Affairs Ministry Deputy Director Muna Almaeeni, dedicated the award to Team SAGT and emphasised the team’s commitment towards operational excellence. He also thanked the customers of the terminal for their contribution towards this achievement and emphasised that SAGT continuously works towards strengthening partnerships and augmenting its customer service. 

SAGT Chief Executive Officer Romesh David reiterated that SAGT is committed to set new benchmarks in the global arena. David also congratulated the Chairman and staff of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority on their award as the ‘Best Ports Authority in the Indian Sub-Continent Region’. He emphasised that this is a good example of Sri Lanka’s maritime capabilities.

SAGT has attracted multiple independent globally recognised “best practice” awards consecutively in the recent past: ranked #1 in South Asia and #4 in the world for Terminal Productivity by the Journal of Commerce (JoC) USA in 2015, ranked #1 in the Indian Subcontinent by the Global Ports Forum (GPF) Singapore in 2016/17 and was awarded Best Employer Brand at The Sri Lanka Best Employer Brand Awards 2017.

South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT), the first private container terminal in Sri Lanka (with approximately 60% of Sri Lankan shareholding), commenced operations in 1999, launching the Port of Colombo as global trade’s preeminent gateway hub to South Asia. Today, the terminal is one of three operators in the Port of Colombo and continues to offer the international container shipping community a competitive best in class service. SAGT is a Board of Investment flagship company consisting of four shareholders – John Keells Holdings, Maersk/APM Terminals, SLPA and Peony investments (subsidiary of Evergreen Marine Corporation).

SAGT General Manager (Operations) Upul Jinadasa being presented the award by UAE Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation for Economic and Trade Affairs Ministry Deputy Director Muna Almaeeni in the presence of Global Ports Forum Chairman Thomas Ng,.