February 02, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lankan seafarers are in high demand internationally and there should be a proper mechanism for catering to that ever increasing demand, Seraya Shipping Private Limited and Serayav Maritime Service Limited Founder and Managing Director Sujeewa Senaratne said.
According to him, it can be identified that over 1,000 new employment opportunities are available for Sri Lankans, annually.
He made these remarks while participating in an inauguration of a new operational office complex of the company, which have earned a reputation since 2013 for providing merchant seafarers or seamen required for the international shipping industry, in Nugegoda recently (30).
Speaking at the event, Senaratne noted that at present, approximately 800 seafarers assigned to Seraya Shipping Private Limited are continuously engaged in service on approximately fifty ships around the world every day, and that there is a demand for approximately one thousand Sri Lankan merchant seafarers per year in shipping companies around the world. He pointed out that his company, which was established in 2013, has employed approximately 20,000 seafarers in the shipping industry.
The services of seafarers have become an essential factor in maintaining maritime services, which have become the strongest means of transport in the world’s import and export sector today. Since many shipping companies in the world are interested in recruiting Sri Lankan seafarers to serve on their ships, the attention of state and political authorities should be focused on resolving the various existing problems and taking steps to safeguard the job demand for seafarers in Sri Lanka, he added.
