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Youth should be encouraged in merchant shipping sector: Minister
Sri Lankan youth should be encouraged to take employment opportunities in the merchant shipping sector for which the government is implanting a dedicated programme, Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.
While addressing a special function organised by the Merchant Shipping Secretariat at the BMICH, Colombo to mark the 2022 World Maritime Day, the Minister said that an attitudinal change of the youth is a must to sustainably prevail in the sector, which had achieved world recognition as a reputable and respectable sector.
"Considering the geographical location of Sri Lanka, there is ample opportunity to make the shipping industry the main entrepreneurial base of this country. However, we need more and more talented young people in this sector who are also well-versed in both knowledge and attitudes," said the Minister.
"Development of ports and infrastructure is a responsibility of the government and there should be an in-depth discussion on ways and means of earning foreign exchange through such a process," he said.
"I have decided to have direct discussions with ship owners in person to draw their assistance towards this worthy cause and to encourage every ship calling our ports to recruit at least 10 young people on board for training." he said.
He further said that making such a process successful to a certain extent would definitely help mitigate the present economic crisis faced by Sri Lanka and bring some relief to resolve the issues. "Currently, we have around 16,500 professionals in various areas of seafarer employment and they all should be covered by such a policy," the Minister said. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)
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