The boat and shipbuilding industry should be given priority as it will generate increased export revenue and provide employment and prosperity to thousands of Sri Lankans, Chief Executive Officer of Walkers Colombo Shipyard, Dr. Sarath Obeysekera said.
He said the Association of Boat and Ship Builders and Allied Trades while presenting the boat building strategy for the National Export Strategy, reiterated the importance of the commitment of the government in developing infrastructure, the legal and regulatory framework needed by the industry to attract private sector investment towards anticipated growth.
Referring to an incident where a foreign investor was driven from pillar to post for almost two years before approval was finally granted for the proposed project, Dr. Obeysekera said the authorities should be more supportive and see an end to red tape as well as reduce the complexity and delays in obtaining approvals and clearances.
Dr. Obeyseka pointed out that with the increase of oceanic traffic in the Indian Ocean there was an increased demand for new boats and ships as well as to repair boats and ships and other ancillary services.
He said that boat and shipbuilding was a high value industry which needed advanced technical capacity and expertise which Sri Lanka possessed. “There are many Sri Lankans attached to the boat and shipbuilding industry serving in various capacities locally and abroad,” he added.
The Walkers CEO said that the 35-metre twin screw landing craft ‘Ocean Lady’ which received Lloyds Registry certification recently was built by a team of local engineers and technicians at the Walkers Colombo Shipyard.
He said that there was a high demand for dry docking and repair services. Dr. Obeysekera, a member of the Advisory Committee on boat and shipbuilding in Sri Lanka, was the Managing Director of Sri Lanka’s largest shipyard, Colombo Dockyard Pvt Ltd for six years after which he served overseas as a consultant engineer to the oil and gas industry before taking charge of Walkers Colombo Shipyard.