ASC re-locates the permanent secretariat to Colombo

The Asian Shipper’s Council, the organisation representing the interests of cargo owners and exporters in the Asian  region  announced yesterday relocating of its  permanent   secretariat from Singapore to Sri Lanka where local shipping community referring ASC’s action as commencement Sri Lanka’s post war era success where country  is  gaining its lost glory  due the end of the 30 years of war.

 
ASC Secretary General Rohan Masakorala told media yesterday that  council’s decision of relocating  its permanent  secretariat office to Colombo is great victory for Sri Lanka in gaining its place in becoming shipping hub in the region.
“May 18  was turning point for Sri Lanka  which lead  in ending  long standing war in the country.  We were  waiting to see this day to come and   decision  by the ASC to relocate its permanent  secretariat  in Colombo great victory  achieved in terms of shipping industry. All these days  India and  China was bidding to take this  office to their countries. It was  at the recently concluded  AGM held  Colombo with the support expressed by the Government  the ASC decided to  set up its office  here.  This is a positive news for Sri Lanka in becoming  maritime hub in the region”.  He said.
Sri Lanka  Port Authority Director Eshana De Silva said that  ASC decision of setting up office in Colombo would boost the  shipping industry   at atime Sir Lanka gearing  itself of becoming shipping hub  in the region.  The Port of Colombo  is  now gearing  in becoming  mega hub in the region  by year1012 and ASC  coming to Colombo is great boost for the country’s shipping industry”.he said
Contd.
At the AGM held  in the month of August the ASC member councils unanimously decided  to move  its current  secretariat from  Singapore  and  to anchor  the permanent  secretariat in Colombo with immediate effect.  Accordingly the  President of the ASC also appointed Minister of Ports  and Aviation Chamal Rajapaksa  to be  the patron  of the ASC secretariat.
The large  gathering  of shippers  consenting  five regions  of Asia  representing  thousands of shippers  has selected  Sri Lanka  as they  perceived  the  country to be  an emerging  major  service centre  in Asia. This achievement  by the country  is a  first of its  kind in Sri Lanka  and one of the prominent  decision taken by an  international  organisation  in support  of the  country  after ending  nearly three decades  of brutal terrorism.
 According to the  chairman of the ASC  John  Y. Lu  who is  based  in Singapore  has written  to the President and the  Minister regarding his organization’s decision and  the official letter is expected to hand over today to the President.
Issuing a statement  from Singapore Mr. Lu  had stated that  the with  improved  security  following country’s  successful  campaign  against  the separatist Tamil Tigers Sri Lanka  is an ideal  centre  for non-governmental organisation.
 Sri Lanka  is a  beautiful country , English speaking  with  district  cost advantage  and enjoys  good international  relations. ASC  would like  to take  the lead  by being  first  regional administration  in the  shipping industry  to be  based  in Sri Lanka  after the war.” Mr. Lu said.
The Sri Lanka  Shippers Council said that  the decision  to base  permanent  office  in Colombo  gives a  clear signal  to investors , tourism industry  and in general to the business  community  a strong message of confidence. The out come  of this move  does not  only highlight the  importance of Colombo  as regional transshipment  and aviation  corridor , but also helps  to disseminate  the correct  information  to the global  shipping community  after many  years of negative  publicity.