The Colombo Plan, a regional intergovernmental organization consisting of 28 member countries, has launched a three-year Maritime Advisory Program (MAP) aimed at building the capacity of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).
The program seeks to address the complex maritime challenges faced by Sri Lanka, with a focus on improving maritime safety, security, and connectivity. Its ultimate goal is to foster collaboration and facilitate knowledge exchange to bolster the nation’s maritime sector.
The MAP program is designed to enhance the human resource capabilities of SLPA through professional training that aligns with global standards and best practices. Key activities within this initiative include port study-exchanges, capacity-building programs, and visits from international maritime experts to offer advisory support.
The program receives funding from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, facilitated through the U.S. Embassy in Colombo.
As the only inter-governmental organization based in Sri Lanka, the Colombo Plan has been involved in various initiatives through its several divisions, including the Drug Advisory Programme (DAP), Gender Affairs Programme (GAP), Capacity Building Programme (CBP), and the Programme for Economic and Climate Change (ECC).
The current MAP initiative represents a significant effort to bring the SLPA up to par with international maritime standards.
A collaboration between The Colombo Plan and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) recently led to the organization of a Public Private Partnerships (PPP) workshop for the port sector.
The event was conducted by experts such as Wim Welvaarts, a senior port consultant from the Netherlands-based Rebel Group, and Rohan Masakorala, the lead consultant for the Colombo Plan Port of Colombo Capacity Building Project. The workshop emphasized the implementation of PPP systems at the Port of Colombo, aimed at strengthening and enhancing its operations.
The first major workshop under the MAP initiative, titled “Empowering Communications for Maritime Connectivity,” brought together various key figures including The Colombo Plan Secretary General Benjamin P. Reyes, Indo-Pacific Strategy Coordinator Dustin Bickel, Deputy Director for Security Assistance John Wise, and SLPA Chairman Keith Bernard.
The event’s objective was to improve the communication capabilities and professionalism of SLPA executives, enabling them to better serve both international and local clients as Colombo develops into a major Asian maritime hub.
Additionally, SLPA delegates had the opportunity to engage in a study visit to the Port of Virginia Authority in Norfolk, U.S., as part of the program’s efforts to expand international maritime cooperation and enhance port management practices.
The communications workshop is an important focus area for SLPA as they engage with international and local clients in day-to-day maritime related work. The objective of the training session was to enhance capabilities and professionalism of the executive staff when dealing with global clients as a hub port in Asia to provide effective and efficient services
