SLPA wins Port Authority of the Year, Port Infrastructure Development of the Year 2020

The awards being received by SLPA Logistics, Marketing and Business Development Director Upul Jayatissa and Operations Director Jayantha Perera from UAE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation for Economic and Trade Affairs and  DP World Group former CEO Mohammed Sharaf and Global Ports Forum Chairman Thomas Ng

Sri Lanka Ports Authority won the GPF Awards for ‘Port Authority of The Year’ and ‘Port Infrastructure Development of the Year 2020’ for the third consecutive year at the Global Port Forum Awards 2020 held at the Hyatt Regency Dubai Deira, in the United Arab Emirates. The awards were received on behalf of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) by SLPA Logistics, Marketing and Business Development Director Upul Jayatissa and Operations Director Jayantha Perera from UAE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation for Economic and Trade Affairs and former DP World Group Group CEO Mohammed Sharaf and Global Ports Forum Chairman Thomas Ng.

The Global Port Forum Awards 2020 aim to recognise the most valuable contribution made by organisations and professionals in different areas of the ports and terminals industry and acknowledge their roles and achievements in different categories. These are awarded based on the nominations received by the Global Port Forum and also in recognition of the important contributions and achievements made by organisations and professionals across the maritime industry in the last year.

In a special message, the Minister of Ports and Shipping Johnston Fernando congratulated and conveyed warn regards and wishes to Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) on the achievement. From the cosmopolitan global port city of Singapore, the entrepreneurial decision was taken in 2008 to found and launch the Global Ports Forum (GPF). The awards ceremony is organised annually by the GPF, in continuation of the commitment for improving global ports and furthering the interests of ports globally through collaborations among members of the port ecosystem. 

A panel of judges, comprising global ports customers and senior port experts from the Global Ports Council, shortlist and select organisations as the most deserving winners for each category. Accordingly, the winners are recognised and honoured in front of a crowd of ports and terminals veterans and professionals, and at the Global Ports Forum Awards Gala Dinner.  The Port of Colombo is ranked as world’s number one container growth port among the top 30 container ports for the year 2018. With such growth, the Port of Colombo has leapt ahead many other Asian ports, major European ports and Dubai as well. The Drewry Port Connectivity Index ranked the Port of Colombo at the 13th best connectivity port in the world in 2019. According to the rankings, the Port of Colombo also became the top best connectivity port in South Asia.

The relationship between the management and SLPA trade unions, and collaborative support by all parties and stake holders engaged in the port operations process, has effectively contributed to the increase of productivity at the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). Creating history, the Port of Colombo for the first time recorded seven million container operations in 2018 with joint marketing strategies by the three terminals, the JCT, SAGT and CICT.

The three terminal operators at the Port of Colombo: the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) under SLPA, the South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT), and the Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT) early last year entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to operate collectively to promote the Port of Colombo. The new collective agreement was expected to minimise the waiting time of all container vessels outside the port waters by allowing operations of vessels at the first available terminal. Further, through this agreement, terminals are also able to promote the Port of Colombo collectively and collaboratively in the arena of international maritime business.

Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) was awarded the Ports Authority of the Year Award first in 2018 by the Global Ports Forum (GPF).

At present, under the guidance of Minister of Ports and Shipping Johnston Fernando and leadership of Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman General Daya Ratnayake, SLPA has expedited the port sector development process in the country to further increase container volumes. These developments are aimed at making Sri Lanka the maritime centre of Asia.