SLANA Chairman – Harsha De Silva took part in a panel discussion on the “New Normal in Shipping” which was organized by YoungShip Sri Lanka. The other members of the panel consisted of CASA Chairman – Iqram Cuttilan, SLAVO Chairman – Shamal Perera, SLFFA Chairman – Roshan Silva, Shippers Council Vice Chairman – Imalka Kumarapeli, and the moderator was YoungShip’s patron – Navin Perera. The panel discussion included current shipping trends affecting the imports & exports of Sri Lanka, such as lack of container equipment, space crunch on mainline & feeder vessels, rising freight rates, regulation of local charges including D/O fees, etc.

This panel discussion gave SLANA an ideal opportunity to inform the viewers of the unique operating model of Nvocc Lines active in Sri Lanka, and also the benefits brought by Nvocc Lines to local importers & exporters who cater to trade between Sri Lanka and the Indian Sub-Continent, Middle East-Gulf, and South East Asian Ports including base ports in China. The panelists all shared the same view in terms of accepting the regional competitiveness, agreeing on a common strategy with a long-term plan to assist the local trade. They sighted the dire need to have a joint discussion with all the stakeholders and to plan for the future than arrive at hasty short-term decisions which could result in long-term impacts on the economy of Sri Lanka. This panel discussion was recorded live on 7th August 2021 and was uploaded by YoungShip on YouTube.