Top forum to promote Sri Lanka as maritime hub

The 2nd edition of the Sri Lanka Ports, Trade and Logistics Conference, Exhibition and Awards will be held at the Hilton Hotel, Colombo, from 1 to 3 May 2013. Organised by Seatrade and hosted by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), the three-day event will include two-day conference sessions, an exhibition, a gala dinner and awards ceremony, complemented by a cricket afternoon, a hosted port visit and networking opportunities.

The event will be inaugurated on 1 May with a Cricket Day. As a pre-conference social networking activity, with former Sri Lankan cricketer and Chairman of the Cricket Selecting Committee Sanath Jayasuriya as Guest of Honour, Seatrade will play a friendly cricket match against SLPA in order to win The Chris Hayman Cup 2013. The day will culminate in an evening of networking with prize giving followed by a cocktail reception and dinner.

The conference and exhibition will be inaugurated on 2 May with the Opening Address by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Minister of Petroleum Industries Anura Yapa, Minister of Port and Highways (Projects) Rohitha Abegunawardhane, Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, SLPA Chairman Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama, Petroleum Resources Development Secretariat Director General Saliya Wickremasuriya and other senior officials representing ports, aviation and tourism will also be present.

International speakers including top officials from Essar Ports, ADPC, Class NK, Colombo International Container Terminals and Colombo Dockyard PLC and other international leaders from the maritime and logistics industry will also speak.  

The two-day conference sessions will focus on important themes from the maritime and logistics industry, including successfully creating state-of-the-art port and maritime facilities, financing and investing in major maritime and transport projects in Sri Lanka, Indian Ocean transport infrastructure projects, offshore and onshore energy development and production in Sri Lanka, protecting against threats at sea, waterborne tourism and marina development and a workshop about successful free-zone development.

The awards ceremony will feature as part of the Sri Lanka Ports, Trade and Logistics Gala Dinner on Thursday, 2 May 2013, with Namal Rajapaksa as Guest of Honour. International and domestic conference attendees are invited to attend this prestigious evening, honouring the most accomplished and dynamic maritime companies and executives in the country.

Award-winning Sky News Anchor and Presenter Jeremy Thompson has been confirmed as moderator for the Keynote Session on 2 May and will also be Master of Ceremonies for the awards ceremony.

For the last day of the event, on 3 May, SLPA will host a two-hour port tour, including breakfast, for all participants of the event. The tour consists of a visit to the existing harbour and a look at the port expansion project including the breakwaters.

SLPA Chairman Dr. Wickrama told prospective participants in a statement that the event would allow high level domestic and international executives to interact and build business relationships in the most dynamic economy in South Asia.

“Through access to Sri Lanka’s leading decision makers, discover the Government’s strategic vision and gain unrivalled insight through the provision of accurate business intelligence that will help you access the vast commercial potential that the island has to offer,” he said.