SLPA’s Mahapola Training Institute turns 25

Implementations have currently been rightly established to convert Sri Lanka into a maritime hub in Asia in its journey to become the marvel of Asia under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Mahapola Training Institute (MPTI) of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) carries out a dedicated performance in this regard providing all essential training and awareness programs for the relevant trainees of the maritime and naval sectors to better cater towards the employment opportunities that are born in the naval and marine sectors.

Under the supervision of Deputy Minister of Ports and Highways Rohitha Abeygunawardhane and instructions of SLPA Chairman Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama, MPTI has emerged one of the best Government sector training facilities in Sri Lanka.

The Mahapola Training Institute was declared open in 1987 by the then Minister and Deputy Minister of Defence Lalith Athulathmudali. R.A.M. Perera served the First Manager (Training) of the facility. At the time of the initiation, the institute conducted three main training units. Machine operations and port operations, electrical and electronic/mechanical and maritime and course development and administration were among them.

During the first stages of these implementations, the naval simulator was erected where a training course was conducted for winch men. Electric cable course of the technical section, workman course, fitting and welding courses were also initiated. Meanwhile, the facility implemented prime mover and crane operator training courses of the operations section as well.

At this commemoration of 25 years, Mahapola Training Institute conducts training on port and naval spheres. The courses have successfully train more than 4,000 trainees annually and continue to work towards their future prosperity.

Currently, eight training areas have been established at this institute in the areas of management, information/systems, mechanical, naval and maritime, fire fighting and industrial health, port operations and logistics, in-service training and course development and exanimations.

The facility obtained the ISO 9002-1994 certificate in 1996 to conduct naval and marine training courses. Later in June 2004, ISO 9001-2000 certificate was received. Having received the ISO 9001-2008 certificate on 15 July 2010, the institute became the pioneer in Government sector training facilities. It also received the SLS certificate and productivity award.

Mahapola Training Institute of SLPA, which comes under the audit standard of the Director General of Shipping and the Indian Audit Standard, has by now trained more than 8,000 individuals and directed for employment opportunities.

The facility also works in coordination with UNCTAD, ILO, IMO, ESCAP, SLAO, University of Colombo, University of Sri Jayawardenepura and also the Kotelawala Defence Academy.

Accordingly to the three year development plan of the SLPA Chairman, in 2008-2010, the institute initiated seven diploma courses and reached a reputed juncture in its journey.

To utilise the latest technology, the facility also maintains the Mechatronic laboratory and has established the container crane simulator. SLPA was the first institution to establish a container crane simulator in a South Asian country.

During the past 25 years Mahapola Training Institute has organised a large number of national and international training programmes, catering towards a national course. It has also provided in-service training to a large number of students at national universities, technical colleges and technical institutes. Besides, the Mahapola Training Institute has helped boost productivity of the operations sector of SLPA through successful training programmes.