Dr Priyath Wickrama.
Dr.Priyath B. Wickrama,
Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports
authority (SLPA) in an
exclusive presentation
recently stated that all
procedures currently being
implemented at the SLPA
would be further developed
to reach maximum customer
satisfactory levels. He made
these comments at the Key
Persons Forum organized by
Small and Medium Enterprise
Developers, the SME
development Arm of the
Federation of Chambers of
Commerce and Industry of Sri
Lanka upon the theme port
user benefits through port
projects. The function held
recently at the Galadari
Hotel in Colombo this month
also made a more desirable
dialogue platform for key
policy makers and the
business community of Sri
Lanka.
Speaking further at the
presentation Dr. Wickrama
said that through the three
year plan introduced by him
at the time of his
appointment as the Chairman
of the institution, a
number of key measures have
been initiated to uplift the
efficiency of SLPA to better
serve its customers around
the clock. The three year
plan introduced and
implemented by Dr.Priyath
B.Wickrama, Chairman of SLPA
includes an e-based document
handling system, an on line
payment scheme, one stop
facility for transactions, a
separate domestic import
yard, a cargo village,
developing accessibility and
mobility inside port
premises, paving better
paths to interact with the
stake holders as well as
implementing an aggressive
marketing plan over the Port
of Colombo and other port
development projects.
Dr.Wickrama stated that
effective implementation of
all these measures were
strengthening the logistics
chain at the same time
making it simple so that
everyone would understand
what the institution was
doing to extend the best
services to its customers.
"Starting from 2010, we have
also developed another five
year plan for the next five
years up to 2014 with a
proper time line. The two
main areas it has been
categorized into, will
straightly focus improving
the process and improving
the quality of the services.
We have implemented several
system improvements such as
the terminal management
system, cargo clearing
modules and a comprised
finance system.
Constructions of a state of
the art cargo village in
Paliyagoda and the central
administrative building for
SLPA will also commence
soon," the Chairman said.
The overall benefit of the
three year plan cargo
village concept for the SLPA
will include, a well
secured cargo warehousing
and handling facility, an
electronic payment scheme
through the EDI facility,
value added services for
users, easy and quick
delivery of cargo to the end
consumer, guaranteed truck
turnaround time as well as
MCC and Entrepot
facilities. The improved
cargo handling module of
SLPA will also offer a
number of benefits such as
speedy delivery operations
for general and LCL cargo,
high traceability and
transparency of landing and
delivery records, ensuring
easy and accurate
documentation enabling
online transmission
facilities of cargo
manifest, electronic
authorization of SLPA and
the Customs while
facilitating the online
payments through credit
cards and standing orders.
The improved basic office
operations of the SLPA in
the process will hence ease
a larger portion of complex
procedures to release
cargo.
Dr.Wickrama also said that
almost over 50% of the
institution's container
de-stuffing operation
equipment will also be
modernized immediately. SLPA
has currently completed the
constructions of its FCL
yard and has commenced the
internal road expansion
project for easier and
efficient land
transportations.
"Our domestic volume was
increasing in about 35% last
year, and this year also we
have marked a significant
growth which means we are
reaching one million
domestic containers by the
end of the year. We are also
in the process of installing
a security camera system
inside the warehouses to
protect cargo.
As we have completed the
constructions of the
breakwater of the Colombo
South Port Expansion Project
(CPEP), we are now about to
start the constructions of
the first private sector
terminal there. In addition,
we have also started
constructions of our own
terminal as well. The basin
capacity in Colombo will be
increased to meet the
requirement of any future
vessel that would call the
port," Dr.Wickrama said.
Expressing views on the
latest port city development
programme the Chairman of
SLPA Dr.Priyath B.Wickrama
said that about 500 acres
from the breakwater of the
CPEP up to the Galle Face
will be filled up and the
contract agreement with the
contractor in relation to
start its work have almost
been finalized. The project
is expected to be
accomplished in 2014.
He further said that the
investments utilized on the
long term basis to improve
capacity inside the SL ports
and also to convert Sri
Lanka to a maritime and
logistics centre of Asia,
based upon the 'Mahinda
Chinthana' policy document
implemented with the
initiative of His Excellency
the President Mahinda
Rajapaksa is rapidly taking
the country to a fully
developed status that can
compete with the any sector
of the international arena
with the Government's theme
to convert Sri Lanka to a
production based economy.
(CPRD-31102011)
