In marking a landmark evolution in maritime education, Ceylon Association of Ship's Agents (CASA) has succeeded in bringing Commercial Shipping into University level by convincing the Colombo University to conduct a special degree program in 'Transport Economics and Commercial Shipping'.

The inaugural ceremony of the stream of specialist in "Transport Economics and Commercial Shipping" was held recently at the Colombo University, attended by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Kshanika Hirimburegama, Prof Indralal de Silva, Prof Sirimal Abeyratne, Prof Amal Kumarage (University of Moratuwa) who was the Guest Speaker and Dr Athula Ranasinghe among other officials of the University.

CASA was represented by Jayantha Rathnayake (Committee Chairman of Training & Development of Ships' Agency Personnel), Nimal Perera (Executive Committee Member/Committee Convenor) and Dhammika Walgampaya (Secretary General).

A CASA spokesman said this is the first time in Sri Lanka a degree course is conducted covering subjects relating to Commercial Shipping which plays a vital role in the economy of Sri Lanka by shouldering almost 100 percent of international trade of the country.

CASA has been lobbying this idea with the Colombo University for sometime and finally the Department of Economics of the Faculty of Arts agreed to introduce a stream in 'Transport Economics and Commercial Shipping' under its Economics Special Degree Program. Those who select new course as their field of specialization would have lectures covering subjects relating to Commercial Shipping in their third year and the first half of the final year.

In addition to that, the students would be given practical training for a period of three months, attached to shipping companies.

Resource personnel to cover shipping related subjects are expected to be arranged by CASA and the Colombo University and is expected to sign a MOU in this connection with CASA.

As per CASA, the objective of this move by CASA, is to bring university level professionalism into the field of shipping and at the same time helping universities to produce employable graduates.
(DN2812009)