YOUNGSHIP SRI LANKA PARTNERS AS A SUPPORT ASSOCIATION OF THE MARITIME STANDARD FOR YEAR 2024
YoungShip Sri Lanka is thrilled to announce their partnership as a Support Association of The Maritime Standard for 2024. The upcoming year is filled with many events covering a diverse range of topics pertaining to the maritime industry. As we collaborate on this journey together, we are committed to providing our members with awareness, knowledge and opportunities globally.
Amidst a host of events, there first event for the calendar is the The Maritime Standard Ship Finance and Trade Conference – 14th February 2024, Taj Exotica Resort, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai https://tms-shipfinanceandtrade.com/
YoungShip Sri Lanka Sets Sails for Another Impactful Year & Appoints Executive Committee for 2024
Eleven Years of YoungShip Sri Lanka: Setting Sail for Another Impactful Year
YoungShip Sri Lanka, part of a global movement established to empower young professionals in the maritime industry, marked its 11th anniversary with its Annual General Meeting held on the 24th of January 2024 at the Havelock City Clubhouse. The event saw the appointment of a new Executive Committee under the continued leadership of Ms. Maleena Awn, the organisation’s First Female Chair.
The Newly appointed Executive Committee is as follows:
- Chairperson – Maleena Awn (Meridian Maritime Services Ltd)
- Vice Chair – Nirmal Dissanayake (Eastern Maritime (Colombo) Ltd)
- Secretary – Aruni Wijepala (Hayleys Energy Services Lanka Pvt Ltd)
- Treasurer – Sunera Wijesekara (Eastern Maritime (Colombo) Ltd)
- Assistant Secretary – Shanga Jayawickreme (McLarens Group of Companies)
- Assistant Treasurer – Patali Karunarathne (Centrum Marine Consultancy Pvt Ltd)
- Immediate Past Chair - Rishantha Mendis (Prudential Shipping)
- Shane De Alwis (Hapag Lloyd Lanka (Pvt) Ltd)
- Prashan Fernando (Panama Shipping Pvt Ltd)
- Kasuni Ahangangoda (Pership Synergy Pvt Ltd)
- Aishwarya Palihawadana (Centrum Marine Consultancy Pvt Ltd)
- Adrian Jansz (Hayleys Energy Services Lanka Pvt Ltd)
Founded in Norway, YoungShip International is a non-profit establishment with a dynamic and diverse footprint of over 4000 members in 31 countries, dedicated to promoting the interests and values of the next generation of maritime leaders. YoungShip Sri Lanka being one of the global departments, hosts a series of projects, activities, and events to connect emerging professionals with industry stakeholders, mentors, and fellow peers to innovate, collaborate and promote growth & diversity within the sector.
Over the past year, YoungShip Sri Lanka organized a series of successful events and initiatives to promote knowledge sharing and camaraderie amongst its members. These included the YoungShip Avurudu Party in April, entertaining over 100 members; followed by an environmental initiative in June, where 400 trees were planted around the Bundala National Reserve buffer zone. July saw the YoungShip Patrons Forum, while August featured hosting a session on “Digitalisation in the Maritime Industry and the Potential Impact of the Port Community System for Sri Lanka” featuring a panels of esteemed industry veterans. The month of July concluded with a fun filled Quiz Night hosted by the energetic personality of Dominic Kellar.
In September, the organization supported the CASA Maritime Conference by conducting a session on the theme ‘Unlocking the Potential of the Blue Economy. A family room for seafarers was established with the help of the Mission to Seafarers with continual efforts from November, and was inaugurated by Her Royal Highness Princess Anne in January. The year concluded with the Annual Christmas Party and the launch of the YoungShip Caring Hands program, providing resources to underprivileged children followed by two projects completed within the year in providing Stationary and dry rations to children in need.
YoungShip Sri Lanka continuously engaged with its international counterparts from Turkey, Rotterdam, India, and Cyprus, for potential collaboration opportunities in 2023. Leveraging on these global connections, Ms. Awn conveys that the organisation’s focus will be on four main pillars – Knowledge and Skills Amplification, Building Strong Maritime Communities, Championing Sustainability, Environmental Responsibility, and Community Outreach, and Operational Excellence and Innovation. Collectively, YoungShip Sri Lanka acknowledges the immense support received from all its support associations, sponsors, industry affiliates, and members as the community sets its sails for yet another eventful year lifting the maritime industry of Sri Lanka.
YoungShip Sri Lanka endorses 1st Female Cadet Program in Sri Lanka
YoungShip Sri Lanka was proud to be an endorsement partner for a historic milestone in Sri Lanka's Seafaring Landscape on the 1st of December 2023. The 1st ever cohort of Female cadet intake as a collaborative effort between Centrum Marine Consultancy (Pvt) Ltd and CINEC under the initiative of “She Can Sail the Seas” The batch consisted of 8 Navigation Cadets and 7 Engine Cadets. The event was attended by YoungShip Sri Lanka’s Asst Treasurer. YoungShip wishes these brave souls prosper in their pursuit of conquering the Seven Seas.
YoungShip Launch "YoungShip Challenge Trophy"
The YoungShip Sri Lanka Chairperson donated a trophy to the Maritime Golf Community (MGC) to be retained and awarded by succeeding chairpersons of YoungShip every year to support promoting future youth joining the maritime golf fraternity and hope for this to grow in the years ahead. The Trophy was launched on the 4th of November 2023.
YoungShip Caring Hands Project 2
YoungShip Sri Lanka conducted the second project of their Caring Hands Programme on the 16th of January 2024. The Executive committee visited the Shilpa Children’s Development Centre in Nawala and donated stationary items and dry ration supplies for a one month period to support 23 girls in foster care placed by the government’s child probation authority. The Shilpa Children’s Trust was established in 1988.
YoungShip Caring Hands Project 1
YoungShip Sri Lanka conducted the first project of their Caring Hands Programme on the 19th of December 2023. The committee Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer visited the Hermann Gmeiner School in Kesbewa and handed over 50 stationary packs to students from under privileged backgrounds along with extra packs of stationary supplies for distribution that was handed over to the Principal of the school. The school houses many students from under privileged homes and the SOS village in need of support (school supplies including food programs). We wish these kids all the best in their studies for the forthcoming year and hope that our support can ease the resource burden borne by them.
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YoungShip Sri Lanka Establish the MTS Family Room - Declared open by Her Royal Highness Princess Anne in January 2024
YoungShip Sri Lanka embarked on a project to refurbish a family room at The Mission to Seafarers (MTS) Centre in Colombo.
The Mission to Seafarers is a global charity that provides support to seafarers and their families. The Centre in Colombo provides a much-needed safe-haven for seafarers who are often away from their homes and loved ones for long periods of time. The family room is a particularly important space, as it allows seafarers to connect with their families especially with children and infants who travel long distances to reach Colombo and to spend valuable time together with their family in a relaxed and comfortable setting at the Mission.
A space was identified at The Mission to Seafarers Centre in Colombo which was converted into a new family room that is bright, welcoming, and functional. The project commenced in September 2023.
It was an honor to have the Global Head of the Mission to Seafarers Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Princess Anne ceremoniously declare the room open in the presence of Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Rev. Perry Brohier (Archdeacon of Colombo/ Port Chaplain Mission To Seafarers Sri Lanka), Rev. John Attenborough (Regional Director Middle East & South Asia and Port Chaplain Cyprus of the Mission to Seafarers), Mrs. Maleena Awn (Chairperson YoungShip Sri Lanka), distinguished members of the British High Commission Sri Lanka, the staff of the Mission to Seafarer Colombo, amongst others.
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.
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.
YoungShip Sri Lanka appoints new Executive Committee 2022
The new YoungShip Executive Committee was appointed at the recent Annual General Meeting held on the 11th of February 2022.
After the YoungShip’s 2021 AGM, the committee were very optimistic about the Covid situation in Sri Lanka & expected the situation to improve in comparison to 2020. Enthusiasm was high for a very eventful and engaging year with the global vaccine rollout. The committee planned a very active events calendar for 2021, however the situation & country regulations made it impossible to action the physical events planned and the committee had to in a very short period of time adjust our activities to be hosted virtually.
With majority of the membership working from home and workplaces operating virtually, YoungShip took this opportunity to further grow its online presence & increase our activities on the newly launched social media pages. YoungShip was able to launch its YouTube channel with videos on International Women’s Day, International Seafarers Day & the very successful panel discussion – New Normal in Shipping, Are Current Shipping Trends here to stay?. YoungShip also conducted a virtual games & networking event for our members called The Connect in September 2021 & assisted CASA (Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents) to conduct the successful CASA YoungShip Virtual Pub Quiz in November 2021. As the situation in the country improved gradually, YoungShip was able to conduct a physical Pub Quiz adhering to all Covid guidelines issued by authorities in January 2022 that was well participated and appreciated by the membership.
The Executive Committee for the year 2022 comprises a group of committed, enthusiastic young professionals. The 12-member Executive Committee is as follows:
Office bearers:
Chairman – Mr. Rishantha Mendis (Prudential Shipping)
Vice Chair – Ms. Maleena Awn (Meridian Maritime Services Ltd)
Secretary – Mr. Nirmal Dissanayake (Eastern Maritime (Colombo) Ltd)
Treasurer – Mr. Prashan Fernando (Panama Shipping (Pvt) Ltd)
Assistant Secretary – Ms. Aruni Wijepala (Hayleys Energy Services Lanka (Pvt) Ltd)
Assistant Treasurer – Mr. Sunera Wijesekara (Eastern Maritime (Colombo) Ltd)
Immediate Past Chair – Mr. Jehan Rodrigo (Mackinnon Mackenzie & Co (Sh) Ltd)
Members of the Executive Committee:
Mr. Shane De Alwis (Hapag Lloyd Lanka (Pvt) Ltd)
Mr. Shehan Perera (Sri Lanka Shipping Company Ltd)
Mr. Imaad Hameem (Evergreen Shipping Agency Lanka (Pvt) Ltd)
Ms. Patali Karunarathne (Ceyline Agencies (Pvt) Ltd)
Mr. Dineth Rajapakse (McLarens (Pvt) Ltd)
YoungShip Sri Lanka’s plans for the forthcoming year include the YoungShip Open Quiz 2022, many networking nights, pub quizzes, seminars / workshops with industry speakers / panellists, CSR initiatives to name a few of the projects in the pipeline.
The Executive Committee wishes to convey its sincere thanks and appreciation to its Patrons & The Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents (CASA) for their continuous support and guidance to YoungShip.
