Message from President Maithripala Sirisena

I am pleased to send this message of felicitation to the Sri Lanka Maritime Week and Colombo International Maritime Conference 2016 organised to mark the World Maritime Day.

The Government, over the last one and a half years, succeeded in re-establishing global connections and friendly relationships to place Sri Lanka in an advantageous position to do business with the outside world. I am happy to state that today we have stabilised the political ship to give a predictable environment to investors and to the people of this country. Over the next five years we will steer our ship towards greater economic benefits and once again make Sri Lanka a regional focal point for trade, commerce, shipping and logistics.

Expansion of maritime activities is of prime importance to Sri Lanka as an island-nation geographically situated very closely to the international sea lanes. Hence, I express my sincere appreciation to the team that organised the Colombo International Maritime Conference 2016 as it would be of immense help to our efforts to promote Sri Lanka’s maritime activity. 

I am glad to note that the theme for the Conference, ‘Shipping Indispensible to world,’ is most appropriate and the Government could easily identify with this theme. 

I wish to congratulate the organisers for their initiatives to promote Sri Lanka’s image as a destination conducive for shipping and logistics. I wish Sri Lanka Maritime Week and Colombo International Maritime Conference 2016 every success.