|
The
implementation
mechanism of
the national
policy will
create an
environment
for
public-private
partnership
to establish
the
infrastructure
and
services.
| ‘The enormous contribution by Ports, Shipping and related industries to the country’s economy, needs to be recognized at all levels of decision making in the country, so that priority could be given to capture the market on time’ |
This would
include
amendments
to
legislation
and the
creation of
systems
conducive
towards
rapid
decision
making, said
Director
General,
Merchant
Shipping
Shantha
Weerakoon.
He was
speaking at
a workshop
for
officials of
the National
Policy for
Ports,
Shipping and
Aviation on
Tuesday at
the Mahapola
Training
Institute of
the Sri
Lanka Ports
Authority.
The workshop
was held to
finalize the
National
Policy for
the Maritime
sector
represented
by all
authorities
in related
areas.
He said that
the enormous
contribution
by Ports,
Shipping and
related
industries
to the
country’s
economy,
needs to be
recognized
at all
levels of
decision
making in
the country,
so that
priority
could be
given to
capture the
market on
time. This
is of
critical
importance
because
regional
competition
is building
and a delay
could result
in permanent
loss of
market
share, he
said.
According to
the
implementation
mechanism of
the national
policy, a
team of
local and
international
experts will
be appointed
to review
all laws
relating to
the Ports
and Shipping
sector and
to recommend
appropriate
modifications
to the Acts
governing
the Sri
Lanka Ports
Authority,
Ceylon
Shipping
Corporation,
Merchant
Shipping and
Marine
Pollution
Prevention
Authority.
A high
level
steering
committee
with
representation
of all
related
ministries
will be set
up to ensure
speedy
implementation.
The
executing
agency will
identify
bottlenecks
and
co-ordination
that must be
regularly
addressed to
the
committee
steering the
project for
speedy
resolution.
An executing
committee
comprising
senior
representatives
of all
stakeholders
from the
Government
and private
sector will
be appointed
as an
ongoing
committee
that remains
in force to
ensure
continuity
to realize
the goal of
making Sri
Lanka the
most
competitive
and
preferred
Maritime and
Logistic
Centre in
the Asian
Region.
The final
draft will
be submitted
for Cabinet
approval
shortly and
there will
be a time
frame for
the public
to express
their views
on the
policy, said
Weerakoon.
(DN-18032009) |
