Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake appointed Adviser to President on Maritime, Ports and Logistics

Friday, 9 January 2026 00:25 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Dr. Mahinda Parakrama Dissanayake, a distinguished maritime, logistics, and corporate leader, has been appointed Adviser to the President on Maritime, Ports and Logistics with immediate effect.

Dr. Dissanayake is currently Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Aitken Spence PLC and holds several senior leadership roles within the Group. He previously served as Secretary to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Southern Development and has twice held the position of Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).

He has accepted the position on an honorary basis.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed his gratitude to Dr. Dissanayake for accepting this important responsibility, which aims to fulfil the Government’s objective of leveraging the country’s strategic position and unlocking its full potential as a key logistics hub.

An internationally respected professional, Dr. Dissanayake has served as an expert on shipping with the UN/UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Panel. He has also led the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (Sri Lanka) and the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (Sri Lanka).

Dr. Dissanayake was the first non-British International President of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (UK) since its founding in 1911.

His academic and professional credentials include Chartered Shipbroker (UK), Chartered Fellow of Logistics and Transport (UK), postgraduate qualifications in business and marketing, executive education at Harvard Business School, Oxford and Cambridge, and visiting professorships in maritime studies.

He has also served as Chairman of the State-owned and lead Jaya Container Terminal, Sri Lanka Port Management and Consultancy Services, and Hambantota International Port Services Ltd., and as a Board Director of the Ceylon Shipping Corporation, South Asia Gateway Terminals Ltd., (SAGT) and Colombo International Container Terminals Ltd., (CICT).

Dr. Dissanayake has received multiple national and international awards in recognition of his leadership in shipping and logistics.