YoungShip Sri Lanka conducts Session 2 at CASA Maritime Conference 2023
The CASA Maritime Conference 2023 was held on 24th October at The Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo focusing on the theme ‘EMBARKING TOWARDS A BLUE HORIZON’ celebrating World Maritime Day 2023 which fell on 28th September.
The second session “Unlocking the potential of the Blue Economy” was conducted by YoungShip Sri Lanka and brought about many thought-provoking discussions on the sustainable development of the blue economy. The speaker for the session was CEO Standard Chartered Bank - Sri Lanka & Head of CCIB Client Coverage Mr. Bingumal Thewarathanthri.
Subsequently the session was followed by a panel discussion comprising of the session speaker and:
Mr. Mangala P. B. Yapa (Management Consultant), Mr. Kamal Dorabawila (Chief Investment Officer at IFC International Finance Corporation & Sector Lead for Transport & Logistics Asia- Pacific Region), Mr. Saliya Wickramasuriya (Chairman CPC, Member of the Board Petroleum Development Authority of Sri Lanka Commission Member Colombo Port City Economic Commission, Chairman Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd), Dr. (Ms.) Vagisha Gunasekara (Senior Economist, United Nations Development Programme, Sri Lanka), Mr. Ayesh Indranath Ranawaka (Executive Director - Institute of Ocean Resource Analysis (INORA), Editor in Cheif - Oceanlust Magazine)
The session was moderated by Ms. Dhashma Karunaratne (COO Freight Sector, Asst. Vice President - Business Development, Freight & Logistics Sectors Aitken Spence Shipping Ltd.) & Ms. Maleena Awn (Chairperson YoungShip Sri Lanka, Director Operations Meridian Maritime Services Ltd.)
Furthermore, YoungShip Sri Lanka Assistant Secretary Ms. Aruni Wijepala (Deputy General Manager Hayleys Energy Services) co-moderated session 3 of the day.
Quiz Night Featuring Quiz Master Dominic Kellar
YoungShip Sri Lanka successfully conducted their Quiz night featuring Quiz Master Dominic Kellar at the Chatham Bar & Grill on the 29th of August 2023. With over 150 participants present the evening was no doubt an eventful and memorable one. We congratulate the 3 winning teams and all 25 teams that took part who challenged each other through all the rounds. Everyone enjoyed the much-awaited quiz, the raffle and the entertainment. A big thank you to Dominic Kellar for keeping spirits high and for being an amazing host. Another shout out to the De Silva Brothers who kept everyone swaying to their tunes into the night.
Panel discussion on “Digitalization in the Maritime Industry and the Potential Impact of the Port Community System for Sri Lanka”
YoungShip Sri Lanka successfully concluded their seminar and panel discussion on “Digitalization in the Maritime Industry and the Potential Impact of the Port Community System for Sri Lanka” at the BMICH Orchid Hall on the 16th of August.
With over 130 participants present the evenings discussions left attendees inspired by the potential the future holds for the maritime industry, the action needed to ensure we maintain our position as a maritime hub, the understanding of challenges we are yet to face and ways of overcoming these hurdles, the solidarity shown by the stakeholders to identify the benefits they are each to gain and work collectively towards this common cause, and the broader impact on increased sustainability through digitalization amongst many other key take aways.
The keynote address was delivered by Marcura Senior Analytics Manager Janani Yagamurthy, an eminent figure in the maritime sector nominated by the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers Sri Lanka, on the theme ‘Maritime 4.0’. The esteemed panel comprised of SLPA Addl. Managing Director Lal Weerasinghe, Sri Lanka Customs Senior Deputy Director Thilaka Pragnarate, CWIT CEO Harikrishnan Sundaram, CICT GM/Chief Information Officer Jayantha Perera, while being moderated by CASA Doc and IT Committee Chairman Chrishantha Fernando.
Patrons Forum 2023
The YoungShip Sri Lanka Patrons Forum took place on the 26th of July with 24 attendees (YoungShip Past Patrons and committee members) who have contributed towards the growth of YoungShip over the last 10 years.
The Event focused on introducing previous senior exco members to the current exco (individuals who have contributed to YoungShip over the past 10 years). The event acted as a small gesture from YoungShip to thank these individuals who have contributed to its current standing over the past 10 years. It also enabled the current leadership to share an update of the recent accomplished & planned initiatives with Patrons & previous exco members and receive feedback.
YoungShip Tree Planting Project (1 & 2)
YoungShip Sri Lanka successfully concluded the 1st project of their Tree Planting Initiative 2023 together with the University of Colombo Agro -Technology and Rural Sciences on the 20th of June 2023. The 1st 200 trees were planted in the outskirts of the Bundala National Park. We sincerely thank all the faculty staff & students, volunteers, and contributors for supporting us and making this project possible.
Subsequnetly, YoungShip Sri Lanka concluded the 2nd project of their Tree Planting Initiative 2023 together with Seaspan Ship Management & Ceyline Shipping (Pvt) Ltd & The University of Colombo Agro -Technology and Rural Sciences on the 25th of June 2023. The special day commemorated seafarers for their unstinted dedication towards world trade, and we were delighted to have over 35 seafarers joining us on the day. The 200 trees were planted within the faculty premises bordering the Bundala National Park. We sincerely thank the faculty staff & students, Seaspan & Ceyline team for supporting us and making this project possible.
YoungShip Sri Lanka Avurudu 2023
YoungShip Sri Lanka successfully hosted their Avurudu event celebrating the Sinhala & Tamil New Year on the 28th of April 2023.
We thank all the sponsors and over 100 members who participated for a successful evening of networking and entertainment.
YoungShip Sri Lanka turns 10; elects Maleena Awn as first female Chairperson for year 2023
YoungShip Sri Lanka is shaping the future of the country’s maritime industry by empowering young professionals through opportunities to learn, share, and collaborate whilst being part of a global network. The organisation celebrated its 10th anniversary on 21 March, at the Marino Beach Hotel in Colombo. The celebration earmarked an extra special day in the organisation’s calendar with the appointment of its first female Chair Maleena Awn, to lead YoungShip Sri Lanka for the upcoming year.
Awn is the Director Operations and a Board Member at Meridian Maritime Services Ltd., a shipping agency and logistics company with 35 years of experience in the maritime industry. She was also the previous Vice Chairperson of YoungShip Sri Lanka for the year 2022 and has served on the committee since 2019, before being elected as the Chairperson for 2023.
Founded in Norway, YoungShip International is a non-profit establishment with a dynamic and diverse footprint of over 4,000 members in 30 countries, dedicated to promoting the interests and values of the next generation of maritime leaders. Having begun its local chapter in 2013, YoungShip Sri Lanka has now grown to a community of like-minded individuals from all areas of the industry who share a passion for the advancement and success of maritime in Sri Lanka. Working closely with the Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents (CASA) from its inception, the organisation aims to bridge the gap between veterans and budding youth in the shipping industry.
The growth of YoungShip Sri Lanka has been unprecedented over the years, under the leadership of past chairs Mevan Peiris, Navin Perera, Hasitha Dissanayake, Jehan Rodrigo, and Rishantha Mendis.
Over the past year, the organisation has grown to 285 members representing over 130 companies. To strengthen its commitment to building a more youthful and inclusive industry, the organisation signed MOUs with key associations to facilitate hands-on experience and training opportunities to budding professionals. These include the Sri Lanka Logistics and Freight Forwarders Association (SLFFA), Lanka Association of Ship Owners (LASO), Sri Lanka Association of NVOCC Agents (SLANA), Sri Lanka Ship Suppliers Association (SLSSA), and Association of Inland Container Depot Operators (ACDO). Moreover, YoungShip Sri Lanka has also worked to provide educational discounts from The Institute of Shipping and Logistics (IOSL) and Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) on several courses to its members.
Additionally, the past calendar year has been an eventful one for YoungShip Sri Lanka as the world began embracing the ‘new normal’. A combination of in-person and virtual events had been organised to bring together and empower all its members as the youth’s voice for Sri Lanka’s maritime sector. Some of these include Pub Quizzes, YoungShip Patrons Forum, segments at the CASA maritime conference 2022, members Christmas evening. Together with these events, the members of YoungShip also took part in international events and initiatives such as Posidonia – YoungShip Sri Lanka meets YoungShip Greece, an Introductory Call with YoungShip Mumbai, and participation in Naples Shipping Week. In the first three months of 2023, an informative visit to the Port of Hambantota, and a Beach Cleanup with Clean Ocean Force were organised as engagement and CSR events to kickstart the new year.
With this, YoungShip Sri Lanka also appointed its Executive Committee for the new year. Members elect are as follows:
Members of the Executive Committee:
Chairperson – Maleena Awn (Meridian Maritime Services Ltd.)
Vice Chair – Nirmal Dissanayake (Eastern Maritime (Colombo) Ltd.)
Secretary – Prashan Fernando (Panama Shipping Ltd.)
Treasurer – Sunera Wijesekara (Eastern Maritime (Colombo) Ltd.)
Assistant Secretary – Aruni Wijepala (Hayleys Energy Services Lanka Ltd.)
Assistant Treasurer – Patali Karunarathne (Ceyline Holding Ltd.)
Immediate Past Chair – Rishantha Mendis (Prudential Shipping)
Shane De Alwis (Hapag Lloyd Lanka Ltd.)
Imaad Hameem (Evergreen Shipping Agency Lanka Ltd.)
Shanga Jayawickreme (McLarens Group of Companies)
The incoming committee states that its plans for the forthcoming year include a range of networking, social, educational and CSR activities. Some of the events in the pipeline include the YoungShip Avurudu celebration, YoungShip Open Quiz 2023, seminars/workshops with industry panellists and speakers, CSR initiatives, port visits, school and graduate awareness campaigns, and more.
On behalf of the newly appointed executive committee, Awn expresses immense gratitude to all patrons, sponsors, respected associations in the maritime sector, and members who have contributed towards the growth of YoungShip Sri Lanka. The generous support rendered by them has enabled the organisation to create a vibrant platform for young professionals in the maritime industry to network, learn and develop their skills to be a positive force for the future of shipping.
“Individually, we are just one idea and perspective. Together, we are an ocean of opportunity and possibility. I hope that we will respect each other, celebrate each other, be inclusive in every aspect and do our part in building a united and supportive network that will not only achieve success in their capacities but also give back to our industry, society at large, the environment and our country,” Awn said.