The Sri Lankan shipping
sector with relevant
infrastructure in place has
potential, to tap into the
regional growth and emerge
as the maritime hub of the
region, Chairman elect
Ceylon Association of Ships
Agents Ralph Anandappa said
on being elected to chair
the association for the
current year.
"While global growth is
certainly a damper and
throws enormous challenges
at shipping lines. Lines are
positioning themselves to
handle the slow growth with
multiple strategies being
deployed to achieve and
sustain excellence in
service delivery and of
course profitability. On the
positive side, particularly
for Sri Lanka, we have
efficient ports and
terminals, suitable capacity
and capable and dynamic
management teams delivering
world class service
levels",he said.
"We all know that Colombo is
ready to handle the largest
container ships afloat
today. We have all seen the
port infrastructure
development taking place in
Sri Lanka. A closer look
into the various segments of
the shipping industry with a
view to providing a variety
of services to the ship
owner and the merchant will
complete Sri Lanka's
position as a centre for
shipping, he added.
It was highlighted at the
recent economic summit that
Asia is growing more than
double of the global growth
rate and of this emerging
Asia, including Sri Lanka is
at the higher end of the
spectrum.
Project Minister for Ports
and Highways Rohitha
Abeygunewardene was the
chief guest.
The global outlook for the
shipping industry remains
negative for the next 12 to
18 months according to
experts. Supply is
continuing to outstrip
demand in most shipping
services. A few days ago the
IMF cut its global economic
growth forecast citing new
downside risks in key
emerging market economies
and a deeper recession in
the Eurozone. Nearer home
container volume throughput
in India has been flat over
last year and so far this
year too. Sri Lanka also has
not registered growth as
such and volumes remain flat
over this period. Alarmingly
our exports have been
declining and it is
attributed to over
dependence on western
markets and strategies are
now in place to diversify
our markets with FTAs
planned with China and Japan
while a deepening of trade
with India is desired and
being worked on.
There are, however, many
ramifications to contend
with in finalizing all of
these agreements and trade
and tariff barriers to be
examined and overcome,
geopolitical and economic
considerations to be dealt
with before desired results
are achieved and sustained.
"We need to have patience,
search for new opportunities
and work hard at offering
the region an unbeatable
center of excellence for
trade and commerce to flow
freely. Benchmarking of such
success stories is essential
if we are to achieve this
and we have examples of
Singapore and Dubai to
follow and emulate. Sri
Lanka also has our own
unique strengths to leverage
on. CASA will continue to
engage the authorities to
address matters concerning
our membership in order to
enhance service delivery to
our principals and
customers", Anandappa said.