The Sri Lanka Logistics and Freight Forwarders Association (SLFFA), plans to have its biennial event, the SLFFA National Logistics Awards 2024. The Inaugural National Logistics Awards Ceremony which was held on 23rd March 2022 was a tremendous success. The event aims to recognize and reward individuals and entities associated with the Sri Lankan logistics industry, intending to elevate industry standards.
NLA’s primary objective is the upliftment of standards and service levels across all logistical service providers by making each market player more accountable. SLFFA also wishes to improve the image, visibility and overall recognition of the industry by positioning logistics to be a more colourful and flamboyant field.
Logistics is mostly a B2B industry, but with the improvements in the field of electronic commerce, logisticians are increasingly starting to liaise with end consumers as well. Through NLA it is anticipated that both types of customers would be provided enhanced levels of service.
The NLA would provide all logisticians a fair and equal opportunity to display their forte and prove their contributions to the industry. This will help those who are top performers to win over the confidence of their customers and encourage others to move in to the top tiers.
By way of NLA, a window would be created for the much due recognition to be granted to the industry and over a period it is expected that more attention would be given by the authorities and regulators as well.
CINEC Campus
Chair Professor Edirisinghe commenced his career as a Cadet Officer in the Merchant Navy. He is an Expert Consultant to the United Nations Secretariat and a member of Wellness Tourism Advisory Group of the European Union (EU). He is also a member of the subcommittee of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board on Capacity building and involved in drafting the National Transport policy and National Tourism policy documents in Sri Lanka.
He has 43 years of work experience in the government and corporate sector and is the author of the first logistics textbook and shipping textbook in Sinhala. He serves on the editorial boards, review committees, and Advisory Boards in many journals. He has published over 100 articles in various journals and conferences introducing many theoretical models in shipping and developing new transportation theories and concepts. He is the Patent owner of CONET Brand, which is a Container Inventory Management software. He was the Project Chair of the Logistics and Transport National Excellence Awards - 2018 organized by Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. He held the Chairmanship of Panel of Judges of the National Logistics awards organized by Sri Lanka Freight Forwarders Association in 2021 and 2024.
Chair Professor Edirisinghe and CINEC Campus was instrumental in introducing Logistics and Shipping in the school curriculum. He was also instrumental in establishing a National day for Logistics in 2021 and National Seafarers Day in 2024 in Sri Lanka. He is the Dean of the Faculty of Management and Social Sciences of CINEC Campus and the Head of Technology Transfer office of the World Bank. He holds two charters as a Chartered Logistician and Chartered Marketer.
General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University
Dr. Namali Sirisoma has obtained her BSc Engineering degree in Civil Engineering from University of Moratuwa and her PhD in Transpiration Engineering from the same University in 2006. Later She has joined the University of Calgary, Canada as a Post-Doctoral Fellow. She has worked in University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Polytechnic University as a researcher. Later she had served as the Aerodrome Engineer (Design and Standard) in Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka during 2010 to 2013 and her main responsibility was to ensure the quality assurance of all the construction work at Mattala Mahinda Rajapaksha International Airport.
She is a Chartered Civil Engineer, Fellow member of Chartered Institute lo Logistics and Transport, Member of Institution f Sri Lanka, Member of Sri Lanka Association of Advancement of Science Sri Lanka.
She is the immediate past president of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Sri Lanka from March 2022 to March 2024. She has served in many government consultancy teams, curriculum development teams and advisory teams. Currently she is attached to the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University and hold the position of the Senior Lecturer Grade I. She was the former Dean of the Faculty of Management, Social Sciences and Humanities and the former Director Career Guidance Unit.
Sri Lanka Export Development Board
Ms. Indumini possess 25 plus years of experience in multiple domains - Market Research, Project Management, Administration, Product Development, Regional Cluster Development and in Export of Services.
Currently as a Director, Indumini leads the Services Export section of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, the premier organization for development and promotion of exports. She guides, facilitates and contribute to uplift the exports of seven services sectors.
She has served as a judge in local and international programmes; World Summit Awards, m-Billionth Awards, Manthan Awards, Western Province Best Web, e-Swabhimani are a few. She has also contributed her expertise to many national ICT projects.
Indumini earned her Master of Business Administration from the Postgraduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayewardenepura and is a graduate of the University of Peradeniya in Agriculture stream, specialized in Agricultural Economics.
Sri Lanka Customs
Mr. J M M G W Bandara is currently the Additional Director General of Customs attached to Enforcement Cluster in Sri Lanka Customs. He works as the Director attached to Preventive Directorate and also as the Senior Director attached to Risk Management Directorate from December 2022 to February 2024. He joined Customs in 1989 and has worked at many different areas. He is a specialist in Customs Valuation, Post Clearance Audit and investigations.
He is a B.Sc. graduate in Business Administration from the University of Sri Jayawardenapura, a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from the Open University of Sri Lanka, a Master degree in Public Administration from the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Tokyo, Japan.
He is also a Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA) and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants of United Kingdom and an Attorney at Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.
InduminAdditionally, he holds membership of various technical committees appointed by the Director General of Customs such as the Chairman of the NC Committee, Deputy Chairman of the Technical Committee on Customs Valuation, Member of the Committee on the Implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement and a member of the Customs Risk Management Committee.
Board of Investment of Sri Lanka
Renuka M Weerakone is a senior official with extensive experience and knowledge in facilitating FDI projects. In her career spanning over 30 years she now holds the esteemed position of Director General / CEO at the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka where she has also served in different capacities giving leadership to key departments.
An attorney at Law, Notary Public and Commissioner for Oaths, she commenced her professional career as an Instructing Attorney at a prestigious Law Firm in Colombo. Her academic prowess includes a Master's Degree in Business Administration from the Postgraduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
Mrs. Weerakone has led outward Investment Promotion missions to strategically important countries to attract investments and continues to represent the BOI in both local and International forums including Trade Negotiations.
She currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Export Development Board and International Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka and she also serves in multiple project approval committees in key sectors of Education, Power and Environment. She has also been an active member of Steering Committees, Policy Committees and Interagency Committees dedicated to addressing challenges faced by Investors and to streamline the implementation of investment projects.
Her contributions have been instrumental in ensuring a conducive environment for Investment and fostering efficient collaboration among stakeholders.
Sri Lanka Ports Authority
Is the Director responsible for the overall operations and management of the all the terminals and quays including the Port of Galle, Port of Trincomalee and Port of KKS in northern province under the purview of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).He joined the SLPA as a management trainee in 1994 after Completing a degree in Business administration from University of Sri Jayewardenepura , Sri Lanka.
In addition to his BSc. in Bus Admin, he is also a LLB (UK) graduate and completed his Post graduate education in Shipping & Port Management from Norwegian Shipping Academy, OSLO. Further, he has also completed his MSC in Management from UCD Dublin., Ireland.
He gathered expertise in port management and administration having completed almost 29 years of experience in the port. His passion is also in teaching by performing as a visiting lecturer in Supply Chain/ Logistics and port Management in few universities and institutes.
Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents (CASA)
A well-known seasoned and reputed professional in the shipping industry with over three decades of illustrious tenure in the global shipping industry, Mr. Janesh Ratnadasa is celebrated for his exceptional leadership and strategic prowess.
Currently serving as Executive Vice President at Asha Shipping Ltd, (Pership Group) he has consistently driven operational and commercial excellence and navigated complex challenges with unwavering dedication and foresight. Mr. Ratnadasa embarked on his illustrious career with Asha Agencies Ltd, swiftly ascending through roles of escalating responsibility of Pership Synergy and ENRICH Marine. His tenure encompasses pivotal positions in the Pership Group.
Driven by an untiring devotion to excellence and fortified by a profound grasp of industry dynamics, Mr. Ratnadasa exemplifies principled leadership. His persistency dedication to advancing operational efficiencies and elevating industry benchmarks underscores his enduring influence in global maritime logistics.
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
Prof. Amila Thibbotuwawa is a Professor of Logistics Engineering in the Department of Transport Management and Logistics Engineering at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. He holds an MSc in Industrial Engineering from École des Mines de Nantes, France, and a PhD in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering from Aalborg University, Denmark.
Prof. Thibbotuwawa has collaborated on numerous industrial projects with Airbus Defence and Space in Germany and has been involved in several research initiatives across France, Denmark, Poland, Germany, and the United States. His research focuses on optimizing supply chains and logistics systems, and he is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Prof. Thibbotuwawa is recognized as one of the world’s leading researchers in Logistics Engineering, with over 100 well-cited international research publications and contributions to more than 15 international book chapters. He has received numerous local and international research grants and awards, reflecting his commitment to advancing supply chain optimization and logistics innovation.
Airport & Aviation services (SL)(Pvt) Ltd, Bandaranaike International Airport.
BSc, LLb,
PGD. Business & Finance Admin (Cranfield UK),
PGD. International relations,
MBA.
Mr.Medawewa who is hailing from Royal College Colombo, is a professional and an all rounder with a carrier spanning over 34 years as at now, in diverse diciplines in Aviation industry. Being selected as a Trainee Air Navigation Assistant , to then Air Traffic Control Department in 1991, at a very young age, he has then accended on a journey into the management level in 1999, when being selected as then youngest qualified Executive, in Commercial & Properties . He gradually and consistently earned his rise to the apex when he was selected to Head the Commercial & Properties , at Bandaranaike International Airport, in 2018. Since 2021, he has been entrusted with a new challenging role to Head the Air Freight Management & Cargo, at the Airport, as at present.
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