SLPA starts training course to produce skilled sea-farers in Sri Lanka

Monday, 2 August 2021 09:54 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

From left: SLPA Director (Human Resources Development) Nalin Aponso, Managing Director Upul Jayatissa, Chairman Capt. Nihal Keppetipola, Ministry of Ports and Shipping Secretary U.D.C. Jayalal, ILO Country Office for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Country Director Simrin Singh, Manaco Marine CEO and IBF NUSS CBA Seafarers Welfare Fund Board of Trustees Member Capt. Nalin Peiris, and Bro Suson Alonzo participating in the program

ILO Country Office for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Country Director Simrin Singh addressing the event

With the vision of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ‘Vistas of Splendour and Prosperity’, Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) recently launched a maritime training course with the objective of producing highly skilled and talented sea-farers with sound knowledge on the subject in Sri Lanka.

This sailor training course is conducted by the ‘Mahapola Ports and Maritime Academy’ of SLPA under the full auspices of the International Labor Organization (ILO). 24 talented youths from low-income families in various parts of Sri Lanka have been selected for this sea-farer training course conducted by the institute at a cost of Rs. 1 million.

Addressing the gathering at the inauguration of the program, ILO Country Office for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Country Director Simrin Singh said that the course would be of great help to Sri Lankan youth seeking new employment opportunities in the naval and maritime sectors. She also said that she was pleased that ILO granted patronage for this course which is being conducted as a training course by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). Ministry of Ports and Shipping Secretary U.D.C. Jayalal addressing the gathering said that the course, which was being implemented under the President’s ‘Vistas of Splendour and Prosperity,’ and on the instructions of Minister of Ports and Shipping Rohitha Abeygunawardena, would enable the youth of Sri Lanka to obtain opportunities in the naval and maritime industries that would in return fruitfully contribute for the socio-economic development of the country.

SLPA Chairman Capt. Nihal Keppetipola, Managing Director Upul Jayatissa, Director (Human Resources Development) Nalin Aponso and a number of higher officials of SLPA and Sri Lanka’s maritime industry also attended the event.